electronic
Americanadjective
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of or relating to electronics or to devices, circuits, or systems developed through electronics.
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of or relating to electrons or to an electron.
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(of a musical instrument) using electric or electronic means to produce or modify the sound.
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of, relating to, or controlled by computers or computerized systems: an electronic document.
electronic voting;
an electronic document.
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of or noting computerized products, services, or technologies: electronic banking.
online electronic dictionaries;
electronic banking.
adjective
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of, concerned with, using, or operated by devices in which electrons are conducted through a semiconductor, free space, or gas
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of or concerned with electronics
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of or concerned with electrons or an electron
an electronic energy level in a molecule
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involving or concerned with the representation, storage, or transmission of information by electronic systems
electronic mail
electronic shopping
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Relating to electrical devices that amplify and process electrical signals. Audio amplifiers, radios, and digital circuitry are electronic devices.
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◆ The scientific study of the behavior and design of electronic devices and circuits is called electronics.
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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
Etymology
Origin of electronic
Explanation
Electronic things work because of electricity that's transmitted using tiny parts. The keyboard you play in your band is electronic, and so is the calculator you use in math class. The adjective electronic describes machines and devices that require electrical currents to run, and that use microchips and transistors to direct that current. There are electronic parts in many areas of our lives — cars use electronic devices, and so do computers, radios, televisions, and cell phones. Electronic instruments like synthesizers have lead to an entire genre of music that's also known as electronic. The word itself was first used in the 1930's to mean "pertaining to electrons."
Vocabulary lists containing electronic
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Engineering - Introductory
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Introduction to Nonfiction
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The increased cost of electronic inputs in computers and consumer electronics goods is estimated to make up around 15 basis points in total to core PCE inflation until late in 2027.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
He said Kerr would come to visit in the morning or afternoon but had to leave by 20:00 because he was on an electronic tag.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
It sits within a designated "radio quiet" zone, where communication systems and electronic equipment are restricted to reduce interference with sensitive scientific instruments.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
The air-defense center also manages deconfliction, ensuring that kinetic and electronic countermeasures against Russian drones don’t result in friendly-fire damage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
While Snake dealt with the alarm, Fox and Eagle prepared to neutralize the trip wire, unclipping an electronic circuit board and a variety of tools from their belts.
From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
