digital

1 of 2

adjective

dig·​i·​tal ˈdi-jə-tᵊl How to pronounce digital (audio)
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 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
With Deloitte predicting e-commerce will be a key driver of holiday sales this year, up around 8% compared to last year, digital channels are a good place to connect with consumers. Brad Simms, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 Flashback: Audacy, formerly called Entercom, grew its digital streaming business through acquisitions in the podcast and digital ad tech space. Sara Fischer, Axios, 30 Sep. 2024
Noun
The two-chip SNES featured a video digital to analog converter in its picture processing unit (PPU) that gamers have since discovered wasn’t able to quickly transition between different colors. Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 29 July 2024 Prime Video subscribers and Amazon Prime members can stream Challengers exclusively online; the film is also available to buy or rent on digital at Apple TV and other video streaming platforms. Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for digital 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'digital.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near digital

Cite this Entry

“Digital.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digital. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

digital

adjective
dig·​i·​tal ˈdij-ət-ᵊl How to pronounce digital (audio)
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 adverb

Medical Definition

digital

1 of 2 adjective
dig·​i·​tal ˈdij-ət-ᵊl How to pronounce digital (audio)
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 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

More from Merriam-Webster on digital

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