integer
1 synonym and 1 antonym for integer, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A whole number, either positive, negative, or zero, with no fractional or decimal part.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
whole number
Antonyms
How to use integer
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
positive integer
negative integer
nearest integer
integer value
consecutive integers
Neutral and technical; standard in mathematics, computing and finance.
Etymology
From Latin integer, meaning "whole, intact, untouched", from in- ("not") plus a root related to tangere ("to touch"). The same word gives English integrity.
Full origin of integer →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an integer and a whole number?
In most school curricula, whole numbers are zero and the positive counting numbers, while integers also include the negatives. So -5 is an integer but not a whole number. In everyday and programming use the two terms are often treated as interchangeable.
Is 0 an integer?
Yes. Zero is an integer, and it is neither positive nor negative. It sits exactly in the middle of the number line.
Is an integer the same as a float?
No. In programming, an integer stores only whole numbers, while a float (floating-point number) stores numbers with a decimal part. Dividing two integers in many languages discards the remainder, which is a common source of bugs.
