middle finger

noun

: the midmost of the five digits of the hand

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web McGill gave the middle finger to the former student through FaceTime in that photo. Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 10 Mar. 2023 Fans and celebrities praised her performance until MIA flashed her middle finger on camera and the controversy from the obscene gesture began to overshadow the night. Diane J. Cho, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2023 On her middle finger, above a cutoff black lace glove, was a tattoo of another. Dana Goodyear, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2023 Her last photo is another self portrait, that has her middle finger front and center for the viewer. Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2022 Take your right hand and wrap it around your head so that your middle finger touches your left ear; reach your left hand down toward the ground. Macaela Mackenzie, Glamour, 26 Jan. 2023 At the end of each of the small primate’s hands are six fingers, including a long and adroit middle finger that can swivel in any direction due to its ball-and-socket joint, like a human shoulder, writes Defector’s Sabrina Imbler. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct. 2022 Yellow and apricot-orange layers of airbrushed polish bring warmth to an index and middle finger, while light and cool shades of blue decorate a pinky finger, index finger, and ring finger on either hand. Chelsea Avila, Allure, 16 Oct. 2022 Sears was called up from Triple-A last week when Oakland placed right-hander Paul Blackburn on the injured list with an inflamed middle finger on his pitching hand. Matt Kawahara, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Aug. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'middle finger.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of middle finger was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near middle finger

Cite this Entry

“Middle finger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middle%20finger. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

middle finger

noun
: the third finger of the hand if the thumb is counted as the first

Medical Definition

middle finger

noun
: the midmost of the five digits of the hand
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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