integer

integer — noun

1. A number that is a complete unit — for example, 1, 2, -3, or 0 — and is not expr

1.nounB1
Definition

A number that is a complete unit — for example, 1, 2, -3, or 0 — and is not expressed as a fraction or a decimal. Integers include positive counting numbers, zero, and negative whole numbers.

Example

The teacher drew a number line and asked the class to mark integers between -3 and 5.

math context: integers on a number line

Quinn's game code stores the player's score as an integer, never as a decimal.

programming context: integer vs decimal

Common collocations
  • positive integer
  • negative integer
  • consecutive integers
  • integer value
  • set of integers
Synonyms
  • whole number

    Everyday term; often used to mean the same as integer, though some speakers use it only for non-negative numbers

  • natural number

    Technical term for positive integers (1, 2, 3...); may or may not include zero depending on the field

Antonyms
  • fraction

    A part of a whole, written as one number over another

  • decimal

    A number written with a decimal point, not a whole number

Usage Note

Zero and negative numbers are integers, not just positive whole numbers. The set of integers is often written as {..., -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, ...}.

Common Mistakes

The answer 3.5 is an integer.
The answer 3.5 is not an integer; it is a decimal.
Integers cannot have a fractional or decimal part.
Zero is not an integer.
Zero is an integer.
Many learners think only positive numbers count as integers, but zero is included.
-7 is a fraction, not an integer.
-7 is an integer.
Negative whole numbers are also integers.

Word family

  • integral
    adjectiveB2
  • non-integer
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Integer is the precise mathematics term for any whole number, including positives, negatives, and zero. Whole number is the everyday equivalent and is often used interchangeably, though some speakers restrict it to non-negative numbers (0, 1, 2, 3…). Natural number is a technical term that varies by convention — in number theory it usually means the positive integers (1, 2, 3…), while in computer science it may include zero. When doing school arithmetic, "whole number" is the safest everyday word. In a formal math exam or programming context, "integer" is the correct choice.

integer ↗whole numbernatural number

Common collocations

Nouns

  • integer variable
  • integer value

Phrases

  • set of integers
  • range of integers

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word integer comes directly from Latin 'integer', meaning 'whole' or 'untouched'. It is formed from 'in-' ('not') and 'tangere' ('to touch') — something untouched remains whole. The mathematical sense of 'a whole number' entered English in the 1500s.