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Synonyms

fingernail

American  
[fing-ger-neyl] / ˈfɪŋ gərˌneɪl /

noun

  1. the nail at the end of a finger.

  2. Printing. a parenthesis.

fingernail British  
/ ˈfɪŋɡəˌneɪl /

noun

  1. a thin horny translucent plate covering part of the dorsal surface of the end joint of each finger

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of fingernail

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; finger, nail

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ortiz says an Arlington police detective called him and asked what fingernail polish Cynthia had been wearing when she disappeared.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

When used together, these ingredients produced a formula that allowed a smartphone to register a fingernail touch, marking an important early success.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

"I only found a tiny little bit," she said, showing a fraction of her little fingernail.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

When he was asked during those proceedings why he had her DNA under his right fingernail, he replied: "I never touched her, and there is no DNA."

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

There was a scraping noise somewhere beneath her feet—close, as if someone were running a fingernail along the ceiling below.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.