digit

noun

dig·​it ˈdi-jət How to pronounce digit (audio)
1
a
: any of the Arabic numerals 1 to 9 and usually the symbol 0
b
: one of the elements that combine to form numbers in a system other than the decimal system
c
digits plural, slang : the digits of a telephone number
At the end of the meal, the pair discussed wanting to see the Dupont Underground art exhibit, and that's when Scott smoothly asked for her digits and said they should go.Vijai Nathan
2
: a unit of length based on the breadth of a finger and equal in English measure to 3/4 inch
3
: any of the divisions in which the limbs of most vertebrates terminate, which are typically five in number but may be reduced (as in the horse), and which typically have a series of phalanges bearing a nail, claw, or hoof at the tip compare finger sense 1, toe sense 1a

Examples of digit in a Sentence

a three-digit number like 507 She suffered several broken digits.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Despite double- and sometimes triple-digit year-on-year growth, and repeat customers accounting for 37 percent of the business every month, the break even point remained elusive. Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025 As one of the 27 specified sub-areas the bank will be focusing on, quantum computing has seen gains as much as triple digits over the past month. Jaures Yip, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025 For example, the official Equifax settlement only requested the last six digits of SSNs. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025 This means when there are no more new phone numbers starting with 313 available, new Detroit phone numbers will instead have 679 as their first three digits, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission. Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for digit

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "whole number less than ten, Arabic figure used to represent it," borrowed from Latin digitus "finger, toe, finger's breadth as a measure" (Medieval Latin also "whole number less than ten"), of uncertain origin

Note: The Latin word digitus has long been associated with the base *deik-evident in dīcere "to talk, speak" and related words descended from Indo-European *dei̯ḱ- "show, point out" (see diction), though explanations for the voicing of the velar stop, as remote assimilation or dissimilation, are difficult to sustain. Ernout and Meillet (Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue latine) suggest a connection with a root *dei̯g-, taken to be a variant of *dei̯ḱ- and reflected in Gothic taikns "sign," etc. (see token entry 1, teach), but more recent thinking (as G. Kroonen, Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic) trace the Germanic etymon directly to *dei̯ḱ-. Digitus hence remains without a certain etymology. Compare dactyl, toe entry 1.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of digit was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Digit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digit. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

digit

noun
dig·​it ˈdij-ət How to pronounce digit (audio)
1
a
: any of the Arabic numerals 1 to 9 and usually the symbol 0
b
: one of the elements that are used to form numbers in a system other than the decimal system
2
: a finger or toe
Etymology

Middle English digit "numeral," from Latin digitus "finger, toe"

Medical Definition

digit

noun
dig·​it ˈdij-ət How to pronounce digit (audio)
: any of the divisions (as a finger or toe) in which the limbs of amphibians and all higher vertebrates including humans terminate, which are typically five in number but may be reduced (as in the horse), and which typically have a series of phalanges bearing a nail, claw, or hoof at the tip

More from Merriam-Webster on digit

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