Hi-tech or high tech?
hi-tech is an adjective meaning “Of, or using high technology”; high tech is a noun meaning “high technology; the most advanced technology available”. Use hi-tech as an adjective and high tech as a noun (high tech is also an adjective: “Alternative spelling of hi-tech”).
What is the difference between hi-tech and high tech?
| hi-tech | high tech | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | noun, adjective | adjective, noun |
| Meaning | informalOf, or using high technology | high technology; the most advanced technology available A Late Modern architectural style incorporating elements of high-technology industry and seeking to communicate the underlying structure and function of a… |
| Example | none recorded | none recorded |
| Pronunciation | /haɪ tɛk/ [haɪ̯ tʰɛk] | /haɪ tɛk/ [haɪ̯ tʰɛk] |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | not counted (the list counts single words) |
Sources: hi-tech and high tech 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 hi-tech and high tech
hi-tech
- 1
Clipping of high technology
- 2
informalOf, or using high technology
high tech
- 1
Alternative spelling of hi-tech
- 2
high technology; the most advanced technology available
- 3
A Late Modern architectural style incorporating elements of high-technology industry and seeking to communicate the underlying structure and function of a building
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.