noun
Etymology
Origin of fingernail
Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; see origin at 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
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
IBM says 2nm designs can fit up to 50 billion transistors, tiny components smaller than a virus, on a chip the size of a fingernail.
From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025
Forensic scientists recommend a fingernail, a tooth, a tissue sample, and a piece of the femur.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
