electronically

electronically — adverb

1. by means of a digital device such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone — for exa

1.adverbB1
Definition

by means of a digital device such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone — for example, sending a message through email rather than by post, or paying a bill through a website rather than by cash.

Example

Anong submitted her homework electronically through the school website.

submit + electronically (verb + adverb for digital submission)

The bill can be paid electronically using a credit card or bank transfer.

Common collocations
  • submit electronically
  • pay electronically
  • file electronically
  • sign electronically
  • communicate electronically
  • register electronically
  • vote electronically
  • transfer money electronically
Synonyms
  • digitally

    narrower — specifically refers to binary (digital) technology; in everyday use they overlap heavily

  • online

    narrower — specifically means via the internet, while 'electronically' includes offline electronic devices too

  • automatically

    different focus — emphasises that no human action is needed, not the medium used

Antonyms
  • manually

    by hand or using physical effort rather than a device

  • in person

    face to face rather than through a device

  • by post

    using physical mail rather than digital transmission

Grammar Patterns

verb + electronically

electronically + past participle

Usage Note

Commonly appears with verbs describing administration or communication — submit, pay, file, send, sign, register, vote. In many contexts 'electronically' and 'digitally' are interchangeable, though 'electronically' is broader (it covers all devices using electronic circuits, not only digital systems).

Common Mistakes

I sent the email electronically.
I sent the email.
An email is inherently electronic, so the adverb is redundant.
The fan runs electronically.
The fan runs on electricity.
'Electronically' refers to devices with electronic processing (circuits, chips), not anything that plugs into a wall socket.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Electronically is the broadest term: it covers any action done through an electronic device — a digital watch, a card reader, a computer, or a smartphone. Digitally is slightly narrower and always refers to binary (0/1) technology, but in everyday conversation the two are often used interchangeably (you can pay a bill either 'electronically' or 'digitally'). Online is narrower still: it means 'via the internet', so an action can be electronic without being online (e.g. saving a file to a USB stick is electronic but not online). Remotely shifts the perspective to distance — you can work remotely by post, by phone, or electronically. Choose electronically for the most general sense of 'using a device', online when the internet connection is essential, and remotely when the key point is that the people are not in the same place.

electronically ↗digitallyonline ↗remotely

Common collocations

Nouns

  • electronic submission
  • electronic payment
  • electronic signature
  • electronic filing
  • electronic communication

Adverbs

  • processed entirely electronically
  • handled fully electronically

Phrases

  • submit something electronically
  • pay bills electronically
  • file taxes electronically
  • sign documents electronically
  • communicate electronically with someone

Prepositions

  • electronically via [system/website]
  • electronically by [method]

Etymology

GreekEnglish

A blend of 'electronic' (coined in the early 1900s from 'electron', which itself comes from the Greek word 'ēlektron' meaning amber — because rubbing amber produces static electricity) and the adverb suffix '-ally'. The word became widely used in the late 20th century as computers and digital devices entered everyday life.