What does analogue mean?
An analogue is something that corresponds to, resembles, or functions as an equivalent of something else — a counterpart in structure, role, or behavior. The word carries two principal senses. In everyday and scholarly use, it denotes a comparable person, object, institution, or idea: the office of prime minister may be described as the British analogue of America's presidency, for instance. In electronics and computing, 'analogue' describes technology that represents information through continuously varying physical quantities — voltage, sound waves, the sweep of a clock hand — in contrast to digital systems built on discrete binary values. This second sense has become culturally resonant, lending 'analogue' connotations of warmth, authenticity, and nostalgia in discussions of vinyl records, film photography, and mechanical watches. The spelling itself is regional: British English retains 'analogue', while American English generally uses 'analog'. Derived ultimately from the Greek 'analogos', meaning proportionate, the word remains essential wherever comparison between systems, eras, or technologies is made.
A person, thing, or concept that is comparable to or equivalent in function to another.
"The ombudsman is the closest analogue to a public defender in the administrative sphere."
Often used when comparing institutions, roles, or concepts across cultures, eras, or systems.
A continuously varying signal or device used to represent data, contrasted with digital representations.
"Older telephones transmitted voices as an analogue signal along copper wires."
Frequently used attributively, as in 'analogue clock' or 'analogue recording'; spelled 'analog' in American English.
Standard pluralization applies; used chiefly when comparing multiple counterparts across contexts.
"Several analogues of this enzyme exist in related species."
Every digital revolution began with an analogue past — your vinyl records, film camera, and grandfather's wristwatch are all 'analogue', from a Greek word meaning 'proportioned like something else'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of analogue
Analogue derives from the Greek 'analogos', meaning 'proportionate' or 'according to due ratio', formed from 'ana' ('according to') and 'logos' ('ratio, reckoning'). It entered English in the early nineteenth century by way of Latin 'analogus' and French, initially carrying the sense of something proportionally corresponding to another. Its sibling terms — 'analogy', 'analogous', and 'homologous' — all descend from the same Greek root, which also gives us words such as 'dialogue' and 'monologue' through the shared element 'logos'. The modern electronic sense, contrasting analogue with digital technology, developed in the twentieth century.
Related word forms
How analogue is actually used
In British usage, 'analogue' serves as both noun and adjective (e.g. 'an analogue clock'); American usage typically prefers 'analog' for both. In technical contexts, 'analogue' specifically contrasts with 'digital', denoting continuous rather than discrete representation of information.
Easily confused with analogue
'Analog' is the standard American spelling of the same word, while 'analogue' is the traditional British spelling still preferred in the UK and in technical writing.