ring finger

American  

noun

1. the finger next to the little finger, especially of the left hand, on which an engagement ring or wedding band is traditionally worn.

---

ring finger British  

noun

1. the third finger, esp of the left hand, on which a wedding ring is traditionally worn

---

Etymology

Origin of ring finger

before 1000; Middle English, Old English

Example Sentences

This measure compares the length of the index finger to the ring finger, a relationship called the 2D:4D ratio.

From Science Daily • Feb. 10, 2026

Ironically, considering her profession, she is missing her left ring finger, a loss that is noted several times but cannily goes unexplained.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

"I remember just seeing his little hand; his pinkie ring finger and middle finger," she says.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2025

“I’d come home and be like, ‘Yeah, I’ve got this,’” Quentin said, shaking his ring finger.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2025

She waved her free hand at Ivy, her nails painted to match a rainbow—red thumb, orange forefinger, yellow middle finger, green ring finger, blue pinkie.

From "Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World" by Ashley Herring Blake