electronics
Americannoun
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(used with a singular verb) the science dealing with the development and application of devices and systems involving the flow of electrons in a vacuum, in gaseous media, and in semiconductors.
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(used with a plural verb) electronic devices, circuits, or systems developed through electronics.
Can you get through the day without using your phone or other electronics?
noun
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(functioning as singular) the science and technology concerned with the development, behaviour, and applications of electronic devices and circuits
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(functioning as plural) the circuits and devices of a piece of electronic equipment
the electronics of a television set
Etymology
Origin of electronics
First recorded in 1905–10; see origin at electronic, -ics
Explanation
Devices that use electricity and electrical components to perform a task — like stereos, TVs, computers, and calculators — are electronics. Unless you live off the grid in a remote place, winding the watch on your wrist and cooking freshly caught fish on your campfire, your life is full of electronics. Kitchen appliances, computers, and televisions are all electronics. You can also use this word for the science of designing circuits using electrical components, or the study of the way electrons behave under various circumstances.
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.
"For decades, we have treated diabetes by telling the body how to manage glucose. We are now showing that we can take control of glucose directly, using electronics rather than drugs," he says.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
Chip companies focusing their efforts on profitable HBM has also fuelled shortages of the less glamorous computer memory components used in everyday consumer electronics -- driving up the price of smartphones and laptops.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
Could the enormous AI infrastructure build-out be changing demand for metals used in electronics and technology, and perhaps undermining the usefulness of this old market signal?
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026
“It’s an indicator that the whole screen is about to die,” says Shahram Mokhtari, a lead tech at iFixit, a site specializing in electronics repairs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Tucked away in the electronics corner, Zane did his best to tread lightly, quietly.
From "A Tangle of Knots" by Lisa Graff
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