An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A property of a → conductor which is defined as the ratio of the → electric intensity (E) to the → current density (J): ρ = E/J. The greater the resistivity, the greater the intensity needed to establish a given current density, or the smaller the current density for a given intensity. A “perfect” conductor would have zero resistivity, and a “perfect” → insulator an infinite resistivity.

See also: From → resistive + → -ity.