digital humanities: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Academic / Technical
Quick answer
What does “digital humanities” mean?
An interdisciplinary field of study and research that applies computational tools and methods to humanities subjects, such as history, literature, art, and philosophy.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An interdisciplinary field of study and research that applies computational tools and methods to humanities subjects, such as history, literature, art, and philosophy.
A field involving the creation, analysis, and interpretation of digital cultural artefacts and data; it also critically examines the impact of digital technology on society and culture. It encompasses scholarly practice, public engagement, and the development of new digital tools and resources.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or definitional differences. Spelling of related terms follows regional norms (e.g., 'analyse' vs. 'analyze').
Connotations
None specific to either region.
Frequency
Equally common in academic and research contexts in both the UK and the US.
Grammar
How to Use “digital humanities” in a Sentence
N + V: digital humanities + [verb: is, transforms, encompasses]Adj + N: [adjective: computational, interdisciplinary, critical] + digital humanitiesV + N: [verb: study, employ, fund] + digital humanitiesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “digital humanities” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Researchers are seeking to digital-humanities the vast archive.
- (Note: 'digital-humanities' as a verb is highly marked and neologistic.)
American English
- They plan to DH the collection, creating a searchable database. (Abbreviation 'DH' used as verb in informal academic slang.)
adverb
British English
- (Not used adverbially) The project was conceived digitally and humanistically.
American English
- (Not used adverbially) They worked on the project from both a computational and a humanities perspective.
adjective
British English
- She secured a digital humanities research grant.
- The digital humanities approach revealed new patterns in the text.
American English
- He works in the digital humanities lab.
- A digital humanities perspective is crucial for this analysis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in contexts of educational technology (EdTech) or cultural heritage software.
Academic
Primary context. Used in course titles, conference names, research grant proposals, and department names.
Everyday
Very rare. Unlikely to be used outside of discussions about higher education or specific cultural projects.
Technical
Common in discussions of data modelling, text encoding (e.g., TEI), digital archives, and software development for cultural heritage.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “digital humanities”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “digital humanities”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “digital humanities”
- Incorrect: 'Digital humanity' (singular). Correct: 'digital humanities' (plural).
- Incorrect: Using it to refer broadly to any online art or history website without the computational research component.
- Incorrect: 'He majors in digital humanities.' (More common to 'study' or 'work in' the field; it's not typically a standalone undergraduate major like History).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While digitisation is often a first step, the core of digital humanities involves using computational methods to analyse, interpret, and ask new research questions of cultural data, and to create new forms of digital scholarship.
Not necessarily. Many roles exist, from project management and critical analysis to tool development. However, basic digital literacy and an understanding of computational concepts are increasingly important.
Computer science focuses on the theory and creation of computational systems. Digital humanities applies those systems to humanities questions and often critically examines the technology itself from a humanistic perspective.
Yes, but the field also recognises and values non-traditional outputs like databases, software, visualisations, and digital editions, which are often peer-reviewed in their own right.
An interdisciplinary field of study and research that applies computational tools and methods to humanities subjects, such as history, literature, art, and philosophy.
Digital humanities is usually academic / technical in register.
Digital humanities: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɪdʒ.ɪ.təl hjuːˈmæn.ə.tiz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɪdʒ.ə.t̬əl hjuːˈmæn.ə.t̬iz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “At the cutting edge of digital humanities”
- “A digital humanities turn”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a humanist scholar using a DIGITAL tablet to study ancient TEXTS; they've merged the two fields.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HUMANITIES ARE A DATASET (to be mined, analysed, visualised).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is most characteristic of 'digital humanities' work?