digital

1 of 2

adjective

dig·​i·​tal ˈdi-jə-tᵊl 

1

a

: 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

b

: done, conveyed, or promoted by means of computerized technology and especially in an online context

The organization hosts nature hikes, yoga sessions, training programs to develop energy policy leaders and workshops on using social media as digital activism …

—Christopher A. Daniel

Continuing along similar conceptual lines, the other exhibition on view … took over the upper galleries to examine the shifting sense of truth in an era of relentless digital misinformation and manipulated realities.

—Elisa Carollo

2

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

digital images/audio

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

compare analog sense 1

3

: providing a readout in numerical digits

a built-in digital display

4

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

5

: of or relating to the fingers or toes

digital dexterity

6

: done with a finger

a digital rectal examination

digitally

ˈdi-jə-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

digitally recorded music

digital

2 of 2

noun

plural digitals

1

a

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

… capture digitals of individual snowflakes.

—Alan Daugherty

b

: digital media (see digital media sense 2) as an industry or sector of an industry

… digital was an important part of the group's marketing plans.

—Sarah Butler

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

Everything feels intuitive, especially thanks to the hotel’s seamless digital app. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026

Although when seen up close or for prolonged periods, the digital dinos are remarkably bland and unimpressive — I was reminded of the notoriously bad CGI in the woeful Ray Bradbury movie A Sound of Thunder (2005). — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026

Noun

Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is available on demand and on digital now. — Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

Kelce and Swift went to great lengths to keep their romantic ceremony private, sending digital invites watermarked with guest names and bundled with NDAs barring them from revealing information about their attendance in advance. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026

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 4

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 footprint
• digital literacy
• digital media
• digital nomad
• digital subscriber line
• digital versatile disc
• digital video disc
• digital wallet
• personal digital assistant

Rhymes for digital

• interdigital

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