digital

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adjective

dig·i·tal ˈdi-jə-tᵊl

: 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

: 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

: providing a readout in numerical digits

a digital voltmeter

a digital watch/clock

: 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

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

: of or relating to the fingers or toes

digital dexterity

: done with a finger

a digital rectal examination

digitally

ˈdi-jə-tᵊl-ē

adverb

digital

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noun

plural digitals

: 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

: 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

: 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

: 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

Example Sentences

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

Younger investors who are navigating market volatility and trying to save for retirement are finding that digital investment platforms lack the personal touch. —

Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2023 The company plans to continue Holladay’s existing functions while adding a digital banking platform and offering both small business loans and mortgages through partnering with major national lending institutions. —

Zachary Hansen, ajc, 28 Feb. 2023 In recent years, critics have bemoaned the rupturing of social institutions and the transformation of digital platforms into places that merely serve as vehicles to sell ads and collect data from users. —

Tim Gorichanaz, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2023 In recent years, critics have bemoaned the rupturing of social institutions and the transformation of digital platforms into places that merely serve as vehicles to sell ads and collect data from users. —

Tim Gorichanaz, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2023 During the Gonzalez hearing, Kagan wondered why digital platforms are held to a unique standard. —

Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2023 Curating care journeys and programs can be served using highly engaging, daily check-ins via digital platforms like DayToDay Health. —

Darshak Sanghavi, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023 Tiffany DeLangie, a digital content creator in Raleigh, N.C., once framed a Hallmark gift bag with a pretty design. —

Maya Pottiger, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2023 ChatGPT and tools like the digital image creator DALL-E have reignited public discourse about how humans and technology interact, as well as the ethics of using AI in school homework, journalism, and even professional art. —

Scott Nover, Quartz, 22 Feb. 2023

Noun

The number of views is inclusive of the broadcast TV audience and digital. —

Pamela Mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2023 To coincide with that move, the company introduced a digital which includes pieces priced over $5 million. —

Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 20 Jan. 2023 Your queue functions more like an approachable digital to-do list and less like a towering stack of the New Yorker magazines—who knows where that piece on whales is hiding? —

Jordan Mcmahon, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 This has only been possible since all this stuff was transferred to hi-res digital. —

Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2021 Avatar: The Way of Water is headed to home entertainment, with James Cameron’s film available to buy on digital on March 28. —

Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2023 In terms of preservation, although initially expensive, this is cheaper than having to constantly update digital every time a new technology emerges. —

Nick Holdsworth, Variety, 18 Feb. 2023 The initiative, costing a massive $5.3 million, will reserve ad time on Spanish language broadcast, cable, radio and digital to run campaign ads. —

Kyle Morris, Fox News, 1 July 2022 The deal was announced a month after APX inaugurated its APXCOIN digital currently, which is being used to provide the JV’s financing. —

Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Aug. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'digital.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of digital was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century