digital

1 of 2

adjective

dig·​i·​tal ˈdi-jə-tᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or utilizing devices constructed or working by the methods or principles of electronics : electronic

digital devices/technology

also : characterized by electronic and especially computerized technology

the digital age

In an electronically driven work-place, managers pinpoint information overload as the inescapable downside to … life in the digital world.

—David Bottoms

2

: composed of data in the form of especially binary digits (see digit sense 1b)

digital images/photos

a digital readout

a digital broadcast [=a broadcast employing digital communications signals]

compare analog sense 1

3

: providing a readout in numerical digits

a digital voltmeter

a digital watch/clock

4

: relating to an audio recording method in which sound waves are represented digitally (as on magnetic tape) so that in the recording wow and flutter are eliminated and background noise is reduced

5

: of, relating to, or using calculation by numerical methods or by discrete units

6

: of or relating to the fingers or toes

digital dexterity

7

: done with a finger

a digital rectal examination

digitally

ˈdi-jə-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

digital

2 of 2

noun

plural digitals

1

a

: media (such as a photograph) in a digital format

This writer spent a frightfully snowy day stumbling around a snow-covered lawn among the downpour of snowflake clusters. Something black and cold became an impromptu netting device to capture digitals of individual snowflakes.

—Alan Daugherty

b

: digital media as an industry or sector of an industry

… radio advertising was up 6.8%, TV advertising was up 9.4%, and digital was up 16.8%.

—News Bites US Markets

2

: something (such as a device) characterized or operated by digital technology

Unlike analog quartz watches, which had a conventional dial and hands, digitals were totally electronic, with no moving parts at all.

—Joe Thompson

The analog thermometers usually register from 0ºF to 220ºF and cost about $12; the digitals register from -58ºF to 302ºF and go for around $15.

—Dorie Greenspan

3

: a finger or toe

… critical ischemia of the digitals of upper and lower limbs …

—Nadjib Schahab et al.

also : an artery or nerve that supplies the fingers or toes

… the doctor reported that ulnar palmar and radial palmar digitals' decreased sensation had a maximum upper extremity impairment of 9 percent …

—US Fed News

Examples of digital in a Sentence

Adjective

You can transfer digital images from your camera to your computer.

a digital recording of a sound

In this new digital age, computers and the Internet are part of our everyday lives.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The film, written by Cannon, stars Douglas Smith and Margo Harshman and will be released on digital and cable on demand July 9. —Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024

News Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. —Ocvarsity Sports Staff, Orange County Register, 17 Apr. 2024

Joan Donovan, an expert in digital activism and an assistant professor at Boston University, argued that the group’s efforts are a form of doxing — the practice of posting personal information online to encourage harassment — which in turn chills debate. —Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024

According to reported influencer marketing trends, 66% of businesses reported superior returns from creator content compared to conventional digital advertising. —Ebony Flake, Essence, 16 Apr. 2024

This 21-and-up area has about double the food vendors as the VIP Rose Garden, as well as craft beer taps and the Cabin, with creative cocktails served in an immersive mountain environment complete with a digital fireplace. —Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024

Building a solid digital presence can help professionals stand out in a crowded job market and attract opportunities for career advancement. —Ebony Flake, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024

Barry Weiss’s nearly decade-old RECORDS promoted David Enriquez to executive vp and Andrew Saltman to vp of marketing and digital strategies. —Marc Schneider, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024

But the threat of similar trickery has left providers of digital identity verification scrambling to catch up. —Nick Rockel, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024

Noun

New safety guidelines from the American Dental Association say the practice can stop, because X-ray technologies have evolved significantly and there are better ways to reduce patients’ exposure to radiation, such as using digital rather than conventional X-ray film. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2024

Harper’s Bazaar Announces New Executive Director Hearst magazines announced that Lynette Nylander is its next executive director for digital at Harper’s Bazaar. —Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 14 Mar. 2024

The film is also available to buy or rent on digital at Amazon’s Prime Video, Apple TV and other transactional video-on-demand platforms. —Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024

However, seeing that films usually release on digital a month prior, the film could be available for rent or purchase at an earlier date. —Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024

Corner Office premieres in theaters and On Demand/digital on Aug. 4. —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 6 July 2023

Where to Stream Mean Girls (2024) Online Mean Girls (2024) is available to buy or rent in 4K Ultra HD digital at transactional video-on-demand platforms, including Prime Video and Apple TV. —Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024

The digital of a cathedral becomes a woozy sister-in-law. —Jay Pilgreen, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024

Advertisement News media has suffered from major cost-cutting as companies struggle to make the transition to digital from traditional business models such as print. —Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English digitalle "(of a whole number) less than ten," borrowed from Latin digitālis "measuring a finger's breadth," from digitus "finger, toe, finger's breadth as a measure" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at digit

Noun

derivative of digital entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Noun

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing digital

• asymmetrical digital subscriber line
• asymmetric digital subscriber line
• digital blackface
• digital camera
• digital computer
• digital divide
• digital nomad
• digital subscriber line
• digital versatile disc
• digital video disc
• personal digital assistant

Kids Definition

digital

adjective

dig·​i·​tal ˈdij-ət-ᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or done with a finger or toe

2

: of, relating to, or using calculation directly with digits rather than through measurable physical quantities

3

: of or relating to data in the form of numerical digits

digital images

digital broadcasting

4

: providing displayed or recorded information in numerical digits

a digital watch

5

: characterized by electronic and computerized technology

living in a digital world

digitally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Medical Definition

digital

1 of 2 adjective

dig·​i·​tal ˈdij-ət-ᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or supplying one or more fingers or toes

a digital branch of an artery

2

: done with a finger

a digital rectal examination

digitally

-ē 

adverb

digital

2 of 2 noun

: a finger or toe

… critical ischemia of the digitals of upper and lower limbs …

—Nadjib Schahab et al., Journal of Vascular Medicine and Surgery

also : an artery or nerve that supplies the fingers or toes

… the doctor reported that ulnar palmar and radial palmar digitals' decreased sensation had a maximum upper extremity impairment of 9 percent …

—US Fed News