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 Tortured Poets Department earned 2.61 million equivalent album units in the U.S. for the week week ending April 25, with traditional album sales (purchases of digital download albums, CDs, vinyl LPs and cassettes) making up 1.914 million of that sum. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2024

Artists can submit any number of entries via digital image via saac-arts.org. —Eric E. Harrison, arkansasonline.com, 27 Apr. 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