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binary file

noun

Simple meaning

A computer file that is not a text file, made up of data other than human-readable text.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

bynereefyl

Say the bold part a little louder.

US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈbaɪnɚiˈfaɪl

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. computing

    A computer file that is not a text file, consisting of data other than human-readable text.

  2. computingcomputer science

    A computer file containing machine-readable information that must be read by an application; characters use all 8 bits of each byte

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

This meaning: A computer file that is not a text file, consisting of data other than human-readable text.

Used this way, binary file is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is a computing use: it carries a fixed technical meaning inside software and systems work.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Specialist/technical
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Specialized
Connotation
Clinical and technical
Usage feel
Technical and specialized

Where it naturally appears

  • Technology
  • Technical/specialist writing
  • Business/professional

Usage note

In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.