Plain English Meaning
A clear electric heating layer built into the windshield. When power runs through it, the windshield warms up, which keeps ice and fog from forming on it.
Full Definition
A thin, transparent, electrically conductive coating bonded into a windshield that heats the glass when current is applied, preventing ice formation and fogging while also strengthening the windshield against bird strikes and pressurization stress.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft windshield anti-ice, deice, and defogging system descriptions.
Derivation
Conductive comes from Latin conducere, meaning to or carry along — here it means the carries (conducts) . Film simply means a very thin layer. Together: a thin layer that carries an electric current.