whole number

noun

: any of the set of nonnegative integers

also : integer

Synonyms of whole number

• number
• digit

Examples of whole number in a Sentence

since percentages have been rounded off to whole numbers, the total will not be exactly equal to 100%

Recent Examples on the Web

Prime numbers, those divisible only by 1 and themselves, are the atoms of arithmetic; all other whole numbers are built from them. — Quanta Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026

Poll results are rounded to whole numbers and may not total 100%. — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Earthquakes are measured by magnitude on a logarithmic scale — so each whole number increase translates to 32 times more energy released by the quake. — Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 27 June 2026

The trick is to choose some number c² so that there are a whole bunch of pairs of whole numbers a and b such that a² + b² = c². — ArsTechnica, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for whole number

• cumber
• lumber
• slumber
• umber
• encumber
• outnumber
• renumber

Kids Definition

whole number

noun

: any of the set of nonnegative integers

also : integer