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

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

Third-quarter earnings are likely to be a mid single digit percentage below consensus, J.P.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 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

An automated healthcare agent that processes a routine prescription refill can’t afford to hallucinate so much as a single digit in a prescription number, lest the patient receive an incorrect medication with potentially harmful effects.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

Zero was so important to the new set of numbers that people started calling all numbers ciphers, which gave the French their term chiffre, digit.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

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

The decline in sales post the 618 shopping festival widened to double digits due to price hikes and seasonal weakness, the research firm says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

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

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

I don’t tell her the numbers are digits of pi.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty