A condition in any circuit of any size in which power jumps from the energy source to either a ground point or to the end of the circuit without actually completing the full circuit. Since this condition shortens the route travelled by the electricity, the condition is known as a short circuit.

Short circuits in energy transmission systems usually result in an overload which can result in anything from a harmless blown fuse to a lethal electrical fire. Most common short circuits that occur in household electrical service are potentially hazardous which is why fuses and breakers are so critical to safe electrical service. But a short doesn't necessarily indicate a hazard condition. For example, if a coin is accidentally set against the two poles of a 9-volt smoke-alarm-type battery, this creates a short circuit which rapidly drains the battery, but the condition is not a hazardous one because of the low voltage and storage capacity of these small energy sources.

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