digital technology: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very HighNeutral to Formal (Common in all registers from academic to everyday conversation)
Quick answer
What does “digital technology” mean?
Electronic systems, devices, and resources that generate, store, or process data, using a binary code of ones and zeros.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Electronic systems, devices, and resources that generate, store, or process data, using a binary code of ones and zeros.
The broad range of tools, platforms, systems, and processes that underpin modern computing, communication, automation, and information management, fundamentally shaping contemporary society.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in the core term. Minor variations may exist in related vocabulary (e.g., BrE 'mobile', AmE 'cell phone').
Connotations
Broadly identical in both varieties. Seen as essential, modern, and transformative, though can also carry connotations of impersonality or disruption.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both UK and US English across media, education, and industry.
Grammar
How to Use “digital technology” in a Sentence
to adopt/integrate/use digital technologythe impact/rise/development of digital technologydigital technology + verb (transforms/advances/evolves)to be driven/enabled by digital technologyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “digital technology” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company decided to digitise their entire archive using the latest digital technology.
- We need to digitalise our workflow to stay competitive.
American English
- The company decided to digitize their entire archive using the latest digital technology.
- We need to digitalize our workflow to stay competitive.
adverb
British English
- [Not typically used as an adverb from this noun phrase.]
- The system was digitally upgraded.
American English
- [Not typically used as an adverb from this noun phrase.]
- The system was digitally upgraded.
adjective
British English
- The digital technology sector is booming.
- They offer a digital technology consultancy service.
American English
- The digital technology sector is booming.
- They offer a digital technology consulting service.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to tools for efficiency, data analysis, e-commerce, and remote work. 'The firm invested heavily in digital technology to streamline its supply chain.'
Academic
Discussed in terms of societal impact, ethics, history of technology, and specific engineering fields. 'The paper examines the socioeconomic implications of pervasive digital technology.'
Everyday
Used to refer to smartphones, apps, social media, and home devices. 'I'm not great with all this new digital technology.'
Technical
Specifies architectures, protocols, hardware, and software standards. 'The system's resilience depends on foundational digital technology like error-correcting codes.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “digital technology”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “digital technology”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “digital technology”
- Using it as a countable noun incorrectly: 'a digital technology' (okay if modified: 'a new digital technology'). Confusing it with 'digital media' (which is about content).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They overlap significantly. 'IT' (Information Technology) is a subset of digital technology focused specifically on computing systems for data management. Digital technology is broader, including consumer electronics, digital media devices, and embedded systems.
Yes, but it usually requires a modifier (e.g., 'a revolutionary digital technology', 'a specific digital technology'). In its general, uncountable sense, it is used without an article ('the impact of digital technology').
Digital technology represents information using discrete binary values (0s and 1s). Analogue technology represents information using a continuous physical variable, like the grooves on a vinyl record or the position of a needle on a dial.
The term gained widespread use from the 1970s and 1980s onwards, coinciding with the proliferation of personal computers and the shift from analogue to digital systems in telecommunications, media, and industry.
Electronic systems, devices, and resources that generate, store, or process data, using a binary code of ones and zeros.
Digital technology is usually neutral to formal (common in all registers from academic to everyday conversation) in register.
Digital technology: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɪdʒ.ɪ.təl tekˈnɒl.ə.dʒi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɪdʒ.ə.t̬əl tekˈnɑː.lə.dʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not idiomatic as a single phrase, but part of expressions like] 'a digital native', 'the digital divide', 'the digital age'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DIGITAL = using digits (numbers 0 & 1). TECHNOLOGY = tools/know-how. So, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY = tools that work with binary numbers.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IS A TOOL/PLATFORM/A NETWORK/A LANDSCAPE (e.g., 'navigate the digital landscape', 'leverage digital tools').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of 'digital technology' in its core sense?