2.1 The terms in this standard are used in standards and literature related to electric contacts, materials for electric contacts and test methods for evaluating electric contacts. These terms may be difficult to locate in a general purpose dictionary or the definition in such a dictionary may not cover the meaning applied in the field of electric contacts.

1.1 The terms included in this list are those that are peculiar to electric contacts or general terms that have a specific meaning when related to electric contacts. The definitions were prepared assuming that the reader has a general knowledge in a physical science but is unfamiliar with the terminology of the literature of electric contacts.

1.2 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.