digit

noun

dig·​it ˈdi-jət 

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

Synonyms of digit

• number
• integer

Examples of digit in a Sentence

a three-digit number like 507

She suffered several broken digits.

Recent Examples on the Web

In a particularly gnarly flashback, one sibling voluntarily — and crudely — amputates his fingers to match his brother's disfigured hand, which lost two digits when Angier shot him. —Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026

The 49ers Hall of Fame safety had his pinkie mangled on a tackle during a game in 1985, and played with a splint before having the digit amputated after the season. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026

Florida posts the lowest average rate increase in the nation — 1% for all of 2025, while most states saw double digits. —David Wilson, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

The federal government had specifically requested voters’ full names, dates of birth, residential addresses, and state driver’s license numbers, or the final four digits of Social Security numbers. —Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 10 Apr. 2026

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

Phrases Containing digit

• double-digit
• significant digit
• single-digit

Rhymes for digit

• fidget
• midget
• widget

Kids Definition

digit

noun

dig·​it ˈdij-ət 

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 

: 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