tech-savvy
B2Informal, common in business, marketing, journalism, and everyday speech.
Definition
Meaning
Having a good understanding and practical knowledge of modern technology, especially computers and digital devices, and being able to use them effectively.
Describes a person, group, or organization that is knowledgeable about and comfortable with current and emerging technologies; implies aptitude and enthusiasm for technology beyond basic competence.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term often implies an intuitive or self-taught understanding rather than formal technical education. It can describe both individuals and demographics (e.g., 'tech-savvy consumers').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical. Slightly more prevalent in American business/media contexts, but common in both varieties.
Connotations
Positive, implying competence and modernity. Can sometimes carry a slight informal or marketing/journalism tone.
Frequency
High frequency in both; a standard modern compound adjective.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[BE] tech-savvy[BE] tech-savvy enough to INFtech-savvy [NOUN (person/group)]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No direct idioms. Related: 'be a digital native', 'speak fluent technology']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Essential for describing ideal employees or target customer demographics (e.g., 'We need tech-savvy graduates for our digital transformation team').
Academic
Rare in formal papers; more likely in reports on education, media studies, or sociology discussing digital literacy.
Everyday
Common to describe friends, family, or oneself in relation to using smartphones, apps, social media, etc.
Technical
Not typically used within core IT/engineering fields where more specific terms ('proficient in Python', 'network administrator') are preferred.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not standard. Use 'in a tech-savvy way/manner'.]
American English
- [Not standard. Use 'in a tech-savvy way/manner'.]
adjective
British English
- The new HR policy aims to attract more tech-savvy graduates.
- My grandparents aren't very tech-savvy, so I help them with their online shopping.
American English
- The startup's success relies on its tech-savvy marketing team.
- You need to be pretty tech-savvy to set up a smart home system.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My brother is tech-savvy. He fixes my computer.
- Children today are very tech-savvy.
- To apply for this job, you must be tech-savvy and good at solving problems.
- The company is looking for tech-savvy customers to test its new app.
- Modern teachers need to be tech-savvy to engage their students with digital tools.
- The campaign was designed to appeal to a younger, more tech-savvy demographic.
- Despite his age, he remains remarkably tech-savvy, often being the first to adopt new software platforms.
- The government's new digital portal failed because it wasn't designed with less tech-savvy citizens in mind.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SAVVY' sounds like 'SAVE' – a tech-savvy person knows how to save their files, save the day from computer problems, and save money by fixing tech themselves.
Conceptual Metaphor
TECHNOLOGY IS A LANGUAGE (to be 'savvy' is to be fluent in it) / TECHNOLOGY IS A LANDSCAPE (to be 'savvy' is to be a knowledgeable navigator).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'технически-сообразительный'. Better: 'разбирающийся в технологиях', 'продвинутый пользователь', 'технологически подкованный' (colloquial).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'tech-savvy' as a noun (e.g., 'He is a tech-savvy' – INCORRECT). It is only an adjective. Confusing with 'savvy' used alone as a noun ('business savvy').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'tech-savvy' in a formal business report?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is strictly an adjective. You cannot say 'He is a tech-savvy.' You can say 'He is tech-savvy' or 'He is a tech-savvy person.'
'Computer-literate' is older and narrower, often implying basic skills like using word processors and email. 'Tech-savvy' is broader, more modern, and implies a confident, intuitive understanding of a wide range of digital technologies (smartphones, apps, social media, cloud services).
Yes, it is almost always hyphenated when used as a compound adjective before a noun (tech-savvy users). It may sometimes appear without the hyphen after a verb (He is very tech savvy), but hyphenation is recommended for consistency.
Yes, it is commonly used to describe companies, governments, or schools that effectively use modern technology. (e.g., 'a tech-savvy corporation').