analogue: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “analogue” mean?
A thing that is comparable or similar to something else.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thing that is comparable or similar to something else; something that represents or corresponds to another thing, typically in a non-digital form.
In technology, a system, signal, or device that uses continuously variable physical quantities to represent information, as opposed to digital representation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English overwhelmingly prefers 'analogue'. American English overwhelmingly prefers 'analog', especially in technical contexts. In non-technical, comparative senses, 'analogue' is more common in BrE, while AmE may use 'counterpart' or 'equivalent' more frequently.
Connotations
In BrE, 'analogue' can carry a slight connotation of being traditional, outdated, or warm/imperfect compared to digital. In AmE, 'analog' is a stark technical term with less cultural baggage.
Frequency
More frequent in BrE overall due to spelling retention and use in non-technical language. In AmE, its frequency is largely confined to technical fields (electronics, computing, biology).
Grammar
How to Use “analogue” in a Sentence
analogue of (something)analogue for (something)analogue to (something)serve as an analogueVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “analogue” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The museum has a fascinating collection of analogue computers.
- He prefers the warmer sound of analogue recordings.
American English
- We need to convert these analog signals to digital.
- The old analog broadcast system was shut down.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except when discussing legacy systems: 'We're phasing out our analogue phone lines.'
Academic
Common in biology (e.g., 'a synthetic analogue of the hormone'), chemistry, media studies, and history of technology.
Everyday
Mostly in reference to old technology: 'My parents still have an analogue television.'
Technical
The primary domain: 'The sensor outputs an analogue voltage proportional to pressure.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “analogue”
Strong
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “analogue”
- Misspelling as 'analog' in BrE contexts. Using it as a verb (it's not a verb). Confusing 'analogue of' and 'analogue to' (both are acceptable, but 'of' is more common for a direct counterpart).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Analogue' is the standard British English spelling. 'Analog' is the standard American English spelling, especially in technical and scientific contexts. In non-technical, comparative senses, British English still strongly prefers 'analogue'.
No, 'analogue' is exclusively a noun or adjective. The related verb is 'analogize' (to draw an analogy), but it is not a direct derivative and is used differently.
No. While commonly used to describe pre-digital technology (clocks, TVs), its core meaning is about similarity and correspondence. It is used actively in sciences like chemistry and biology to describe structurally similar compounds (e.g., 'a vitamin D analogue').
The most common mistake is trying to use it as a verb (e.g., 'He analogued the situation to...'). The correct phrasing would be 'He drew an analogy between the situation and...' or 'He analogized the situation to...'.
A thing that is comparable or similar to something else.
Analogue is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Analogue: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæn.ə.lɒɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæn.ə.lɔːɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A dinosaur in an analogue age”
- “Thinking in analogue terms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ANALOGUE sounds like "ANALOGous" – think of two ANALOGous things that are similar or comparable.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTINUITY IS ANALOGUE (vs. DISCRETENESS IS DIGITAL); TRADITION IS ANALOGUE (vs. MODERNITY IS DIGITAL).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'analogue' used INCORRECTLY?