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 Various schools and organizations throw pi digit memorization contests. Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Ann Arbor boy can recite 1,400 Pi digits 01:12 Thursday marks National Pi Day in the United States and around the world. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2024 Notice how a quick trip to the grocery store has been hitting triple digits lately? The Indianapolis Star, 8 Mar. 2024 But Grantham says a new shot clock will soon arrive that can display triple digits. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 But how, aside from creating a triple digit count of minigames on top of a sprawling roleplaying game, did the developers manage to design a card game that would be worth committing time to? Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2024 No one could possibly memorize or store in their brain the entire infinite sequence of digits. Craig S. Smith, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 In Orange County, for example, the Registrar has a tool that requires you to input your date of birth and the last four digits of your driver’s license, California ID or Social Security number. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 1 Mar. 2024 The numbers of 5 and 8 in the Super Bowl edition, the date — Feb. 11 (2+11) — and the 49ers digits all add up to 13. Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'digit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near digit

Cite this Entry

“Digit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digit. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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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