whole number
Americannoun
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Also called counting number. one of the positive integers or zero; any of the numbers (0, 1, 2, 3, …).
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(loosely) integer.
noun
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an integer
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a natural number
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A member of the set of positive integers and zero.
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A positive integer.
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An integer.
Etymology
Origin of whole number
First recorded in 1550–60
Compare meaning
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Magnitudes on the Richter scale are measured logarithmically, with each whole number increase representing ten times more in measured amplitude.
From Barron's • May 11, 2026
"I really hope this is a drama that suggests that Jamie is like this because of a whole number of complicated factors."
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2025
The 14th Amendment requires that congressional seats be distributed among the states “according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State.”
From Seattle Times • May 8, 2024
Nonetheless, Mr. Biden said, “We’re looking at a whole number of options.”
From New York Times • Feb. 16, 2024
“A whole number of things went sour there.”
From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
