fingernail

noun

fin·​ger·​nail ˈfiŋ-gər-ˌnāl 

ˌfiŋ-gər-ˈnāl

: the nail of a finger

Examples of fingernail in a Sentence

I trimmed and filed my fingernails.

He had dirt under his fingernails.

Recent Examples on the Web

If Buenos Aires is the canvas, San Telmo is the paint with a little dirt under the fingernails. — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

The second is about pygmy seahorses, which are the size of your fingernail and live in coral. — Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026

All the fingernails-on-chalkboard screeching out of Washington. — ABC News, 2 July 2026

The confluence of those problems lead to a harried, chew-your-fingernails night for all the star players in this final season. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fingernail

• abigail
• cottontail
• countervail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale
• yellowtail

Kids Definition

fingernail

noun

fin·​ger·​nail ˈfiŋ-gər-ˌnāl 

ˌfiŋ-gər-ˈnā(ə)l

: the nail of a finger

Medical Definition

fingernail

noun

fin·​ger·​nail ˈfiŋ-gər-ˌnāl, ˌfiŋ-gər-ˈnā(ə)l 

: the nail of a finger