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

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

For the anniversary, I didn’t want to charge a triple digit entry price for one big party.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026

That’s as much as $37 billion in bonuses—a mid-single digit share of GDP—and a boon to other Korean companies.

From Barron's ● May 15, 2026

Hengrui Pharmaceuticals’ shares were 6.4% higher in Hong Kong and 5.2% higher in Shanghai, pulling back from double digit spikes after the announcement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026

As soon as Quan recites the last digit, a guard Jus failed to notice says, “Time’s up!”

From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone

The fire ignited while a wide swath of Southern California is under a heat advisory that will extend until Tuesday, sending regional temperatures into the 90s and triple digits Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

Paul Mladjenovic, author of “Investing in Gold and Silver for Dummies,” told MarketWatch that the “mania” in the silver market earlier this year lifted prices to triple digits “too quickly.”

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026

With temperatures nearing triple digits under a record-setting heat wave, fans also spent hours waiting outside in hopes of catching a glimpse of the newlyweds or their celebrity guests.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

Buns and condiments are in the double digits, too.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

Job duties include reading, remembering encyclopedias, novels, and poetry; and memorizing the first ninety-nine digits of pi.

From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green