Analog or analogue?
analog is an adjective meaning “In which the value of a data item (such as time) is represented by a…”; analogue is an adjective meaning “Alternative spelling of analog”. Wiktionary gives them as spellings of the same word. In written English (wordfreq, 2021 data) analog is about 2.8 times as common as analogue.
What is the difference between analog and analogue?
| analog | analogue | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | adjective, noun | adjective, noun |
| Meaning | In which the value of a data item (such as time) is represented by a continuous(ly) variable physical quantity that can be measured (such as the shadow of a… Not relating to, or pre-dating, digital technology such as computers and the Internet; relating to real life Something that bears an analogy to something else | Something that bears an analogy to something else An organ or structure that is similar in function to one in another kind of organism but is of dissimilar evolutionary origin |
| Example | an analog watch | See also: convergent evolution |
| Pronunciation | /ˈænəˌlɒɡ/ [ˈanəlɔɡ] /ˈanəlɔɡ/ | not recorded |
| In writing | 5.4 times per million words | 1.9 times per million words |
Sources: analog and analogue in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of analog and analogue
analog
- 1
In which the value of a data item (such as time) is represented by a continuous(ly) variable physical quantity that can be measured (such as the shadow of a sundial)
an analog watch
- 2
Something that bears an analogy to something else
- 3
Not relating to, or pre-dating, digital technology such as computers and the Internet; relating to real life
an analog (paper) map
- 4
An organ or structure that is similar in function to one in another kind of organism but is of dissimilar evolutionary origin
See also: convergent evolution
- 5
A structural derivative of a parent compound that differs from it by only one or a few atoms or substituent groups; (usually, especially) such a molecule that retains most of the same chemical…
analogue
- 1
CommonwealthAlternative spelling of analog
- 2
Something that bears an analogy to something else
- 3
An organ or structure that is similar in function to one in another kind of organism but is of dissimilar evolutionary origin
See also: convergent evolution
- 4
Alternative spelling of analog (“A structural derivative of a parent compound that differs from it by only one or a few atoms or substituent groups; (usually, especially) such a molecule that retains…
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, analog or analogue?
analog appears 5.4 times per million words; analogue 1.9 times per million words.
analog 5.4 times per million wordsanalogue 1.9 times per million words
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How many people search analog vs analogue?
“analog vs analogue” is searched about 1,300 times a month on Google and 100 on Bing in the United States. Google counts close variants of a query together (“analogue vs analog”, “analog or analogue”).
Sources: Google Ads keyword data through DataForSEO and Microsoft Advertising keyword data through DataForSEO, the average month from September 2025 to August 2026.