digit

American  

[dij-it] / ˈdɪdʒ ɪt /

noun

• digits
  plural

1. a finger or toe.

2. the breadth of a finger used as a unit of linear measure, usually equal to 3/4 inch (2 centimeters).

3. any of the Arabic figures of 1 through 9 and 0.

4. any of the symbols of other number systems, as 0 or 1 in the binary.

5. index.

6. Astronomy. the twelfth part of the sun's or moon's diameter: used to express the magnitude of an eclipse.

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digit British  

/ ˈdɪdʒɪt /

noun

1. a finger or toe

2. Also called: figure.  any of the ten Arabic numerals from 0 to 9

3. another name for finger

4. astronomy one twelfth of the diameter of the sun or moon, used to express the magnitude of an eclipse

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• digits
  plural

Etymology

Origin of digit

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin digitus “finger, toe”

Explanation

If you want to sound smart, you can refer to your finger, thumb, or toe as a digit. Each of the numbers from 0 to 9 is another kind of digit. Although your pinkie toe may seem to be completely unrelated to the number three, each is a kind of digit. In fact, the practice of calling numbers digits comes from the digits on your hands — specifically, the habit of counting to ten on your fingers. The Latin root word digitus means "finger or toe," and English borrowed from this to mean "number."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

digit digits

WPP forecast like-for-like revenue less pass-through costs to decline by a low to mid-single digit percentage in the second half, following a 4.7% drop in the first.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

The new 2026 target suggests retail growth will be at or very close to double percentage digit in the second half, JPM says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Manning's earlier research has explored whether digit ratio can provide information about alcohol consumption, outcomes after contracting COVID-19, and oxygen consumption in footballers.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026

Energy-sector earnings will be affected in coming months, but the stock market more broadly will be underpinned by the forecast for “robust double digit earnings growth,” he adds.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026

I started with a bead the size of the last digit of my little finger, my guess as to how much resin Denna had actually swallowed.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

PBF has risen double digits, and Sunoco has risen more than 6%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

There are around a dozen candidates, with those trailing Lula and Bolsonaro polling in the single digits.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

A rule might involve reversing the digits or eliminating numbers above a certain value.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

Back in March, analysts warned that the greatest energy crisis ever would send oil to the triple digits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

“Then I made up sentences that used at least as many letters as there are digits in this ciphertext. Beware the ninja monkey. He likes banana bread and drives a station wagon.”

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman