noun
Common
digit
DIHD-zhiht
Digit (noun) means any of the ten Arabic numerals (0–9), or a single symbol in a number system. Example: “The zip code has five digits.”
noun
1
Any of the ten Arabic numerals (0–9), or a single symbol in a number system.
"The zip code has five digits."
"Round the answer to two digits after the decimal point."
"Her phone number ends in a seven, which is the last digit."
2
A finger or toe.
"The X-ray showed no fractures in any of her digits."
"He hurt a digit on his left hand when the door slammed."
"Frostbite can damage the digits first, so keep your toes warm."
How to use digit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA single number symbol (like the "7" in "70"), or, in an older sense, a finger or toe.
Common pairings
single digit
double-digit
ten digits
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Word forms
- Plural
- digits
- Third person singular
- digits
- Past tense
- digited
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The zip code has five _____.
Etymology
From Latin digitus, "finger" or "toe" — the finger sense came first, and the number sense grew from the old habit of counting on fingers.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “digit” mean?
The word “digit” means any of the ten Arabic numerals (0–9), or a single symbol in a number system. In plain terms, a single number symbol (like the "7" in "70"), or, in an older sense, a finger or toe.
How do you pronounce “digit”?
“Digit” is pronounced DIHD-zhiht (/ˈdɪd͡ʒɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “digit” in a sentence?
Here is “digit” used in a sentence: “The zip code has five digits.”
What part of speech is “digit”?
“Digit” is a noun.
Where does the word “digit” come from?
The word “digit” comes from Latin. From Latin digitus, "finger" or "toe" — the finger sense came first, and the number sense grew from the old habit of counting on fingers.
Is “digit” a common word?
“Digit” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “digit” have?
“Digit” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: any of the ten Arabic numerals (0–9), or a single symbol in a number system.
What is the difference between "digit" and "number"?
A "digit" is a single symbol, one of 0 through 9 in the Arabic numeral system, while a "number" can be made up of one or more digits combined, such as the number 245 containing three digits. Every number is built from digits, but not every digit on its own is called a number in ordinary usage.
How many digits are in a standard phone number?
This depends on the country's numbering system, but the term "digit" is used to count each individual numeral in the sequence, such as a ten-digit phone number in the United States. The word simply refers to each single symbol from 0 to 9 that makes up the full number.
Why is "digit" also used to mean a finger or toe?
"Digit" has a separate, older anatomical sense referring to a finger or toe, distinct from its numerical meaning. The two senses share a common root in the idea of counting, since fingers were historically used for counting numbers.
