digital native: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Semi-formal to formal. Common in journalism, sociology, education, and business discourse.
Quick answer
What does “digital native” mean?
A person born or brought up during the age of digital technology and therefore familiar with computers and the Internet from an early age.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person born or brought up during the age of digital technology and therefore familiar with computers and the Internet from an early age.
A member of a generation for whom digital tools like computers, smartphones, and the internet are a natural, seamless, and essential part of life, not a learned technology. Often contrasted with "digital immigrant."
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Slightly more frequent in British academic and journalistic contexts discussing social change.
Connotations
Both varieties use it with the same core meaning. In American business contexts, it might be used more pragmatically to discuss consumer or workforce trends.
Frequency
Comparatively high frequency in both varieties within relevant discourses (education, media, HR).
Grammar
How to Use “digital native” in a Sentence
[be/consider] a digital native[grow up as] a digital native[cater to/understand] digital natives[the needs/expectations] of digital nativesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “digital native” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Their digital-native perspective is reshaping the media landscape.
American English
- We need a digital-native approach to customer service.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in marketing, HR, and management to describe the expectations of younger consumers or employees. 'Our new strategy must appeal to digital natives.'
Academic
Used in sociology, education, and media studies to analyze generational shifts. 'The study examines the learning styles of digital natives.'
Everyday
Used by parents or older generations to describe younger people's relationship with tech. 'My kids are digital natives; they fixed my phone in seconds.'
Technical
Less common in pure tech fields (like software engineering), more common in UX design and product development discussing user behavior.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “digital native”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “digital native”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “digital native”
- Using it to describe anyone good with technology (age/cultural upbringing is key).
- Spelling error: 'digitalitive'.
- Confusing it with 'digitally literate' (a skill vs. a generational identity).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, no. The term is defined by being born into the digital age (usually from the 1980s/90s onwards). A skilled older user is often called a 'digital immigrant'.
Not necessarily. The term assumes access and immersion. A young person without reliable internet access may not develop the intuitive relationship with technology the term implies.
Yes, increasingly so (e.g., 'digital-native workforce', 'digital-native mindset'). It functions as a compound adjective.
The term was popularized by education consultant Marc Prensky in his 2001 article 'Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants'.
A person born or brought up during the age of digital technology and therefore familiar with computers and the Internet from an early age.
Digital native is usually semi-formal to formal. common in journalism, sociology, education, and business discourse. in register.
Digital native: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɪdʒɪtl ˈneɪtɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɪdʒɪtl ˈneɪtɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'native speaker' – a person who grows up speaking a language naturally. A 'digital native' grows up surrounded by digital 'language' (computers, internet).
Conceptual Metaphor
TECHNOLOGY IS A NATIVE LANGUAGE / ENVIRONMENT. (Digital tools are as natural and inherent as one's mother tongue or birthplace.)
Practice
Quiz
Which term is most directly opposed to 'digital native'?