# analog

/ˈænəˌɫɔɡ/ (US) · /ˈænəlˌɒɡ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/analog
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. non-digital technology

adjective · CEFR B2

using physical signals like moving parts or waves rather than digital computer code.

For teachers: relating to signals or information represented by a continuously variable physical quantity, such as spatial position or voltage.

- I prefer wearing an analog watch because I like seeing the hands move around the face.
- The studio engineer insisted on using analog recording equipment to capture the warm harmonic distortion that digital software often fails to replicate.

Usage: Often contrasted with 'digital' in technical contexts.

### 2. real-world or traditional

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

relating to real life or traditional ways of doing things instead of using the internet or computers.

For teachers: pertaining to the physical world or traditional methods as opposed to digital or virtual environments.

- In our digital world, it is nice to have an analog hobby like gardening or painting.
- Despite the convenience of e-readers, many bibliophiles still crave the analog experience of turning physical pages and smelling the ink on paper.

### 3. a comparable thing

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

something that is similar to something else in a way that allows you to compare them.

For teachers: a person or thing seen as comparable to another; a counterpart that maintains a similar relationship or function.

- The historical event was a close analog to the political crisis we are seeing today.
- Researchers struggled to find a modern analog for the ancient social structure, as the tribal dynamics did not map neatly onto contemporary urban life.

### 4. chemical or biological counterpart

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a chemical that is very similar to another one, or a body part in a different animal that does the same job.

For teachers: a structural derivative of a parent compound; in biology, a structure with a similar function but different evolutionary origin.

- The scientists tested a new analog of the drug to see if it had fewer side effects.
- The bird's wing and the insect's wing are biological analogs, performing the same aerodynamic function despite having entirely different ancestral paths.

Usage: In chemistry, it refers to a molecule with a slightly altered structure.

## Examples

- The wings of a bird are a functional analog to those of a bat.
- Researchers are testing a synthetic analog of the hormone to see if it produces the same biological response.
- While the two political movements emerged in different centuries, historians often treat the earlier uprising as a structural analog to the modern revolution.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.