digit

American  

[dij-it] / ˈdɪdʒ ɪt /

noun

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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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

Now it belongs to a humanoid robot called Digit that was built for grunt work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

Agility’s Digit robot, with its rectangular eyes and pincers for hands, looks a little more like science fiction and a little less like a human replacement.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

Agility Robotics, which is focused on making humanoids for factories, eschewed hands altogether, opting to directly attach tools to its Digit robot’s arms instead.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 27, 2025

Agility Robotics, an Oregon company with an office in San Jose, has been deploying its robot Digit in warehouses and for manufacturing and logistics.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2025

"A Digit of the Moon," I said, "What a queer title!"

From The Reflections of Ambrosine A Novel by Glyn, Elinor