electronic

American  

[ih-lek-tron-ik, ee-lek-] / ɪ lɛkˈtrɒn ɪk, ˌi lɛk- /

adjective

1. of or relating to electronics or to devices, circuits, or systems developed through electronics.

2. of or relating to electrons or to an electron.

3. (of a musical instrument) using electric or electronic means to produce or modify the sound.

4. of, relating to, or controlled by computers or computerized systems: an electronic document.

   electronic voting;

   an electronic document.

5. of or noting computerized products, services, or technologies: electronic banking.

   online electronic dictionaries;

   electronic banking.

---

electronic British  

/ ˌiːlɛk-, ɪlɛkˈtrɒnɪk /

adjective

1. of, concerned with, using, or operated by devices in which electrons are conducted through a semiconductor, free space, or gas

2. of or concerned with electronics

3. of or concerned with electrons or an electron

   an electronic energy level in a molecule

4. involving or concerned with the representation, storage, or transmission of information by electronic systems

   electronic mail

   electronic shopping

---

electronic Scientific  

/ ĭ-lĕk′trŏn′ĭk /

1. Relating to electrical devices that amplify and process electrical signals. Audio amplifiers, radios, and digital circuitry are electronic devices.

2. ◆ The scientific study of the behavior and design of electronic devices and circuits is called electronics.

3. Compare electric

---

Usage

Electronic is used to refer to equipment, such as television sets, computers, etc, in which the current is controlled by transistors, valves, and similar components and also to the components themselves. Electrical is used in a more general sense, often to refer to the use of electricity as a whole as opposed to other forms of energy: electrical engineering; an electrical appliance. Electric, in many cases used interchangeably with electrical, is often restricted to the description of particular devices or to concepts relating to the flow of current: electric fire; electric charge

Other Word Forms

• electronically adverb
• interelectronic adjective
• nonelectronic adjective
• preelectronic adjective
• unelectronic adjective

Etymology

Origin of electronic

First recorded in 1900–05; electron + -ic

Example Sentences

That means ensuring he is always surrounded by security and loyal aides, with no one carrying cellphones or other electronic devices.

From The Wall Street Journal

She was sentenced to six years in prison, which she was allowed to serve under house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor, and banned from holding public office for the rest of her life.

From Barron's

The ESF regularly buys electronic items from online sellers to conduct its own safety tests on products.

From BBC

Sunday using location data from his cellphone, along with other electronic devices, app footprints and a network of cameras.

From Los Angeles Times

These elements, used to make magnets crucial to the auto, electronics and defence industries, have been defined by the European Union as critical raw materials.

From Barron's

Related Words

• computerized