fingertip

American  

[fing-ger-tip] / ˈfɪŋ gərˌtɪp /

noun

fingertips plural

1. the tip or end of a finger.

2. a covering used to protect the end joint of a finger.

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adjective

1. extending to the fingertips, as a coat, veil, etc..

   a fingertip jacket.

idioms

1. at one's fingertips,

   1. close at hand; easily or immediately available.

   2. at one's command or disposal, as recall of factual information.

      He has the answer at his fingertips.

2. to one's fingertips, thoroughly; perfectly.

   She was a politician to her fingertips.

fingertip British  

/ ˈfɪŋɡəˌtɪp /

noun

1. the end joint or tip of a finger

2. another term for fingerstall

3. readily available and within one's mental grasp

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fingertips
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fingertip

First recorded in 1835–45; finger + tip ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fingertip fingertips

Though he didn’t lay a fingertip on the basketball, Robinson accomplished his mission, stretching his long arms into an obstacle even the super-sized Wembanyama couldn’t shoot over cleanly.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

A uranium-fuel pellet the size of a fingertip packs as much energy as roughly one ton of coal or 149 gallons of oil.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

A San Francisco rusher got a fingertip on the ball but it sailed through the goalposts with more than enough distance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 16, 2024

Out in lane one after only qualifying seventh fastest, Richards, 21, came agonisingly close as Romania’s rising star David Popovici, 19, touched first to win gold by a fingertip.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2024

The itching came again, the tingling sensation of yet another attempt to peer inside my head, dread trailing down the length of my spine like a freezing fingertip.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

Hanging from a cliff edge by their fingertips.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

Many remember him as one of the “zip-tie guys”—he was photographed crossing the Senate floor in tactical gear, white flex-cuffs dangling from his fingertips.

From Slate ● May 28, 2026

"Our final, clear polish could be put over any manicure or even bare nails, which could help people with calluses on their fingertips, too. So, it has both a cosmetic and lifestyle benefit," explains Desai.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 26, 2026

The close play went through several minutes of hawkeye replay on the videoboard that zoomed in on James’ leg and Suggs fingertips.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 22, 2026

Abuelita picked up a desiccated brown sprig between her fingertips.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall