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.

---

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

---

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

But when he tries to text her the next day, he realizes the number she gave him is missing a digit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

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

Instead, the researchers view digit ratio as a possible marker of hormonal exposure during early fetal development.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026

"Dangerous heat is expected to unfold through the weekend with triple digit highs and potential for daily maximum temperature records both days," the service's Weather Prediction Center said Saturday.

From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 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

She told employees she expects profit margins in the double digits this fiscal year and to ultimately reach 1 billion people daily between the company’s games, films and other media.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

County’s coast soared into the 90s on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, while inland valleys recorded highs hitting the triple digits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

Among patients 66 and older, demand for breast augmentations, tummy tucks, arm lifts, thigh lifts and facelifts all increased by double digits.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 5, 2026

Campbell’s executives said they foresaw logistics inflation to be around double digits in its fiscal year 2027.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

Before the puzzled faces of Mr. and Mrs. Beale, he opened the front door and looked at the three cast-iron digits nailed to the door frame: seven two eight.

From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli