digerati

American  

[dij-uh-rah-tee, ‑rey] / ˌdɪdʒ əˈrɑ ti, ‑ˈreɪ /

plural noun

Digital Technology.

1. people skilled with or knowledgeable about digital technologies, especially computers and the internet.

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digerati British  

/ ˌdɪdʒəˈrɑːtɪ /

plural noun

1. the people who earn large amounts of money through internet-related business

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Etymology

Origin of digerati

First recorded in 1990–95; dig(ital) + (lit)erati

Explanation

Digerati is a term used to describe people who shape the technology industry with their innovation and expertise. The term digerati was first coined in 1992 to describe influential figures in the growing field of technology during an increasingly digital era. Today, it includes app creators, game developers, cybersecurity experts, and tech-savvy social media influencers who share digital tips and trends. The digerati are digital pioneers, shaping how we use gadgets, apps, and the internet in everyday life.

Example Sentences

Even a storied retreat has become sullied by the obtuse self-absorbed mindset of the digerati.

From New York Times • Dec. 4, 2017

A barefoot Buddha with dreadlocks, perched in a crazy fun house in the leafy hills of Berkeley, Lanier is a founding member of the digerati.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 12, 2017

It exists as an open-source, peer-to-peer internet protocol, which may explain why the digerati have embraced it.

From US News • Jun. 10, 2016

“I’ve always felt it was overrated,” Trump told the Associated Press, referring to the data-crunching wizardry that so mesmerizes the political digerati.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2016

Here, amid the digerati, the elite of the Valley, the definition of attention seems to broaden.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel