conduct
/ˈkɒn.dʌkt/The way a person or group behaves, especially in a formal or professional setting. It usually implies a standard is being judged — either met or broken.
- His conduct during the trial was calm and respectful.
- The school has strict rules about student conduct.
- She was dismissed for unprofessional conduct at work.
- 1.
To organize, manage, or carry out a formal activity such as a study, interview, or investigation. This sense is very common in academic and professional writing.
- The researchers conducted a survey of five hundred people.
- The police are conducting a full investigation into the case.
- She will conduct interviews with candidates next Monday.
- 2.
To lead or direct a musical group, or to allow heat, electricity, or sound to pass through a material.
- He conducted the city orchestra with great skill.
- Copper conducts electricity better than most metals.
Adinary Nuance
As a noun, conduct is more formal than behavior — you'd describe a child's 'behavior' at home but a diplomat's 'conduct' in negotiations, because conduct implies a standard being judged. Compared to manner (which describes style or approach), conduct focuses on whether actions are appropriate or not. As a verb, conduct is narrower than carry out — it collocates tightly with formal activities: you conduct a survey, experiment, interview, or investigation, but you'd never say "I conducted the groceries." In IELTS and academic writing, 'conduct a study' is a near-fixed collocation that signals high lexical range to examiners.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hành vi / tiến hành
- Spanish
- conducta / llevar a cabo
- Chinese
- 行为 / 进行
- Japanese
- 行動 / 実施する
- Korean
- 행동 / 수행하다
Etymology
From Latin 'conducere' (to lead together), combining 'con-' (together) and 'ducere' (to lead). It entered English in the 15th century via Old French, first meaning 'to escort or guide' before expanding to its modern senses.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'conduct' formal or informal?
- Both its noun and verb forms are formal. In everyday speech, people say 'behavior' (noun) or 'do / run' (verb). Reserve 'conduct' for academic writing, professional emails, reports, and IELTS essays.
- What is the difference between 'conduct' and 'behavior'?
- 'Conduct' implies a standard is being applied — was the action acceptable or not? 'Behavior' is more neutral and everyday. Use 'professional conduct' in a formal report, but 'strange behavior' in casual conversation.
- Why is 'conduct a survey' better than 'do a survey' in IELTS?
- 'Conduct a survey' is a fixed academic collocation that signals formal register to examiners. 'Do a survey' is grammatically fine but sounds informal in written academic contexts. Use 'conduct' with: survey, research, study, experiment, interview, and investigation.
- Is the pronunciation of 'conduct' different for the noun and verb?
- Yes. As a noun, stress falls on the first syllable: /ˈkɒn.dʌkt/. As a verb, stress shifts to the second syllable: /kənˈdʌkt/. This pattern also applies to other noun-verb pairs like 'record', 'permit', and 'project'.