integer

noun

in·​te·​ger ˈin-ti-jər 

1

: any of the natural numbers, the negatives of these numbers, or zero

2

: a complete entity

Synonyms

• digit
• figure
• number
• numeral
• numeric
• whole number

Examples of integer in a Sentence

Both 10 and -10 are integers.

three is a positive integer

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike the more familiar real numbers – positive and negative integers, fractions, square roots, cube roots and even numbers such as pi – complex numbers have an imaginary component. —William Ross, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2025

Hilbert’s 10th problem is undecidable for every ring of integers. —Joseph Howlett, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2025

The dense text covered various ideas about cryptography, but Thompson (a former mathematics student) was particularly fascinated with a chapter about prime numbers, the crucial integers that make up the foundation of all computer and data coding. —Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025

People got that idea because the May paper claimed to have used a D-Wave system to factor a 50-bit RSA integer. —Ars Technica, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, adjective, whole, entire — more at entire entry 1

First Known Use

1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

integer

noun

in·​te·​ger ˈint-i-jər 

: a number that is a natural number (as 1, 2, or 3), the negative of a natural number, or 0

called also whole number