digit

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   One of the ten written symbols, 0 to 9, that are combined to make numbers.

   Grammar: Counts symbols, not value: 4096 has four digits.

   Patterns

   • a two-digit number
   • the last digit of something

   Your phone passcode must contain at least six digits.

   The final digit of the code was smudged and hard to read.

   A three-digit number is always at least 100.

2. 2nouncountabletechnicalformal

   A finger or toe of a person or animal.

   Grammar: Technical or formal; ordinary speech says finger or toe.

   Patterns

   • a digit on the hand

   The surgeon reattached the injured digit.

   Frogs have four digits on each front foot.

Word forms

Common combinations

a two-digit number

The temperature will reach a two-digit number by noon.

a single digit

Unemployment fell to a single digit for the first time in years.

the last digit

Only the last digit of the card number is shown on the receipt.

enter a digit

Please enter each digit slowly.

double digits

Sales growth reached double digits this quarter.

binary digit

A bit is short for binary digit.

Synonyms and how they differ

numeral

A numeral is any symbol standing for a number, including Roman ones like IV, whereas a digit is specifically one of 0 to 9.

figure

Figure is a looser everyday word that can mean a digit or a whole amount, as in a six-figure salary.

number

A number is the whole quantity, which may contain many digits, while a digit is one symbol within it.

finger

Finger fits ordinary speech about a hand, whereas digit for a body part sounds clinical.

Word family

digital adjective

using numbers or data in electronic form

digitize verb

to turn into electronic data

digitally adverb

by electronic means

digitization noun

the conversion of information into digital form

Commonly confused: digit or number?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “digit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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