Meaning & use
double-digit
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Describing a number that is between 10 and 99, so it has two digits.
Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: double-digit growth, double-digit inflation. It is not used after a verb.
Patterns
- double-digit growth
- double-digit increase
- double-digit unemployment
The company reported double-digit growth in sales last quarter.
Economists warned that double-digit inflation could return.
The team celebrated a double-digit win over their rivals.
Common combinations
- double-digit growth
- The firm achieved double-digit growth for the third year in a row.
- double-digit increase
- There was a double-digit increase in online orders during the holiday season.
- double-digit inflation
- Some countries are struggling with double-digit inflation.
- double-digit unemployment
- The region has suffered from double-digit unemployment for years.
- double-digit lead
- The candidate held a double-digit lead in the polls.
Commonly confused: double-digit or two-digit? double-digit or single-digit?
double-digit vs two-digit
Two-digit is a more neutral way to say a number has two digits; double-digit is often used to emphasize that the number is at least ten and is often surprisingly high.
double-digit vs single-digit
Single-digit means a number from 0 to 9; double-digit means from 10 to 99.
Practice
The company's profits rose by 15%, a ______ increase.
Choose one answer.
The blank describes an increase of 15%, which is a number between 10 and 99, so 'double-digit' is correct. 'Two-digit' is possible but less idiomatic for emphasis on growth. 'Single-digit' would mean less than 10%, which is wrong. 'Double-digits' is a plural noun, not an adjective before a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “double-digit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.