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

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Etymology

Origin of digit

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

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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

Excluding Dickies, revenue rose 1% compared with a year ago, or flat on a constant currency basis, which was ahead of guidance of for a low-single digit percentage fall at constant currency.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 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

So I try to dazzle him by reciting pi to the 314th digit.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

It turns out that among the 20 best performers through last week, all but three were down this week, and 11 of the stocks were down double digits.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

By the third inning, Misiorowski’s fastball velocity, which touched 104 mph, had dropped to double digits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

The executive has told employees she expects profit margins in the double digits this fiscal year and to ultimately reach one billion people daily between the company’s games, films and other media, the Journal said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

The company said it expected revenues to decline by "high-single digits" in the financial year ahead, adding that it planned to make savings of $2.5bn by 2031, some of which will result in job losses.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

The digits of pi will take over like an infection.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

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