digitalize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1 (Low frequency, specialized term)Formal, technical, business
Quick answer
What does “digitalize” mean?
To convert analog information (like text, images, or sounds) into a digital format that computers can process.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To convert analog information (like text, images, or sounds) into a digital format that computers can process.
To adopt digital technologies, tools, or methods in an organization, process, or industry; to administer the drug digitalis (a rare, specialized medical sense).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English tends to use 'digitise' more commonly than 'digitalize'. In American English, 'digitalize' is the standard spelling for the conversion sense.
Connotations
The term carries a formal, technical connotation in both varieties. In business contexts, it implies modernization and efficiency.
Frequency
In the UK, 'digitise' is more frequent; in the US, 'digitalize' is standard for the tech sense. The strategic business sense (e.g., 'digitalize our operations') is equally used in international business English.
Grammar
How to Use “digitalize” in a Sentence
[subject] + digitalize + [object] (The library digitalized its manuscripts.)[subject] + digitalize + [adverbial] (The company is digitalizing rapidly.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “digitalize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The BBC plans to digitise its entire historic film archive.
- We must digitalise our patient records to improve efficiency.
American English
- The museum received a grant to digitalize its art collection.
- To stay competitive, the bank needed to digitalize its customer onboarding.
adverb
British English
- N/A (adverb is 'digitally')
American English
- N/A (adverb is 'digitally')
adjective
British English
- N/A (adjective is 'digital' or 'digitised')
American English
- N/A (adjective is 'digital' or 'digitalized')
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the strategic transformation of business models, operations, and customer interfaces using digital tech.
Academic
Used in library science, media studies, and history regarding the preservation and accessibility of materials.
Everyday
Rarely used in casual conversation; 'scan' or 'put online' are more common for simple actions.
Technical
Precise term in IT, archival science, and engineering for the conversion process from analogue to digital signals/data.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “digitalize”
- Using 'digitalize' to mean simply 'use a computer' (too broad). Confusing it with 'digitalise' (UK variant) in American contexts. Misspelling as 'digitialize'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In meaning, they are synonyms for the tech process. 'Digitalize' is the standard American spelling for this sense, while 'digitize' is common in British English. In global business, 'digitalize' can imply a broader strategic transformation beyond simple conversion.
No. It dates from the mid-20th century with the rise of computers, coinciding with the older, unrelated medical term. Its usage has surged since the 1990s with the digital revolution.
It's technically correct but overly formal. For a single item, verbs like 'scan', 'digitize', or 'convert' are more natural. 'Digitalize' is better for systematic, large-scale projects or strategic shifts.
No. While often used for archives (retrospective conversion), it also applies to designing new, inherently digital processes from the start (e.g., 'digitalize the new invoice workflow').
To convert analog information (like text, images, or sounds) into a digital format that computers can process.
Digitalize is usually formal, technical, business in register.
Digitalize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɪdʒ.ɪ.təl.aɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɪdʒ.ɪ.t̬əl.aɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no common idioms for this verb]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DIGITAL-ize' – to make something into a DIGITAL version.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRANSFORMATION IS A JOURNEY FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW (e.g., 'We are on the path to digitalize our services.').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'digitalize' LEAST appropriate?