binary: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “binary” mean?
Relating to, composed of, or involving two things.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to, composed of, or involving two things.
A system in which information is represented using only two options, typically 0 and 1 (in computing and mathematics); a stark division between two mutually exclusive categories.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations. In social discourse, the critique of 'binary thinking' is equally prevalent in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in technical fields (computing, maths). Slightly more frequent in UK social sciences discourse discussing non-binary identities.
Grammar
How to Use “binary” in a Sentence
binary + noun (binary code)verb + in + binary (stored in binary)preposition + the + binary (beyond the binary)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “binary” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The software binaries the image data for efficient transmission.
- We need to binary these values before the algorithm can process them.
American English
- The compiler binaries the source code into an executable.
- They decided to binary the survey responses for the analysis.
adverb
British English
- The signal is encoded binary.
- The device thinks quite binary, with no room for nuance.
American English
- The data is stored binary on the disk.
- She argued rather binary, ignoring the middle ground.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to file formats or data representation (e.g., 'The report is saved as a binary document').
Academic
Used in computing science, mathematics, logic, and critical social theory (e.g., 'deconstructing the binary of nature vs. nurture').
Everyday
Most commonly heard in computing contexts (e.g., 'It's all ones and zeroes—pure binary') or describing simplistic either/or choices.
Technical
The fundamental system of representing data and instructions in digital computers using the base-2 number system.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “binary”
- Using 'binary' as a synonym for 'digital' (digital is broader).
- Pronouncing it as /bɪˈnæri/ instead of /ˈbaɪ.nər.i/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its most common modern use is in computing and mathematics, it is also used in astronomy (binary stars), chemistry, and critically in social sciences to describe oversimplified dichotomies (e.g., the gender binary).
'Digital' means representing information with digits (which could be in any base, like decimal). 'Binary' is a specific type of digital system that uses only two digits (0 and 1). All binary data is digital, but not all digital data is strictly binary (though in practice, modern computers are binary-digital).
Yes, though it is technical jargon. It means to convert something into, or represent something in, a binary form (e.g., 'The sensor binaries the analogue signal').
In gender theory, 'non-binary' is an umbrella term for gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or feminine—i.e., outside the traditional gender binary. It has been adopted into general discourse from this specific context.
Relating to, composed of, or involving two things.
Binary is usually formal, technical in register.
Binary: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪ.nər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪ.nər.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “binary thinking”
- “the gender binary”
- “see things in binary terms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BINARY system as a BI-cycle: it has TWO wheels, just as binary uses TWO digits (0 and 1).
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLEXITY IS A SPECTRUM / SIMPLICITY IS A BINARY CHOICE (e.g., 'Life isn't binary; it's full of shades of grey').
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'binary' LEAST likely to be used in its technical sense?