electronic

[ ih-lek-tron-ik, ee-lek- ]

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

/ 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 shopping

   electronic mail

electronic

/ 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

Derived Forms

• elecˈtronically, adverb

Other Words From

• e·lec·troni·cal·ly adverb
• inter·e·lec·tronic adjective
• none·lec·tronic adjective noun
• pree·lec·tronic adjective
• une·lec·tronic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of electronic¹

First recorded in 1900–05; electron + -ic

Example Sentences

This is a growing “tsunami” according to the UN, and it’s fed by all the phones, tablets and other electronic devices that are thrown away each day.

From Singularity Hub 

It has focused especially on keeping the lights on in community centers and in the homes of particularly vulnerable San Diegans, such as low-income families or people with electronic medical devices, she said.

From Voice of San Diego

When the Covid-19 pandemic swept through Asia, Europe, and the Americas, stock exchanges went fully electronic and bankers began to work from bedrooms.

From Quartz

We don’t rely on another prosthetic manufacturer to make expensive sensors or electronics.

From Singularity Hub 

The findings come from a partnership formed in 2017 between the United Nations International Telecommunication Union, the International Solid Waste Association and other groups to track the accumulation of electronic debris.

From Science News

After the captain made the call to abandon ship, 150 people were able to escape on lifeboats lowered by electronic arms.

From The Daily Beast

Privacy advocates such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation say everyone should use it.

From The Daily Beast

Its core information—materials, processes, electronic tricks, and RCS numbers—needs to be protected.

From The Daily Beast

Almost all the publishers submitted electronic editions crafted for Texas specifically.

From The Daily Beast

Otherwise, I love dismantling old computers or electronic devices and try to make them work.

From The Daily Beast

After months of testing and inspecting complicated electronic devices, he found simple gadgets amusing.

From Project Gutenberg

The captive electronic minds were sending out no commands; the coils and relays were at rest.

From Project Gutenberg

Dr. Abrams tried numerous instruments, but has been able to find nothing so sensitive to electronic activity as a human body.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a strap affair around his shoulders, with a set of complicated electronic controls slipped into the muscle fibers.

From Project Gutenberg

It's ridiculous to say that people who want to "loan" their electronic copy of my book to a friend need to get a license to do so.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• computerized