Home British & World English double-digit

Definition of double-digit in English:

double-digit

adjective

  • (of a number or variable) between 10 and 99.

    ‘double-digit inflation’
    • ‘Firms with questionable numbers see their stock prices fall by double-digit percentages.’
    • ‘He expects earnings to grow by double-digit figures in the first half of the current financial year.’
    • ‘For several years in a row, the retail costs of heating oil and natural gas have seen double-digit percentage increases.’
    • ‘Earnings for this year are likely to be healthy, as house price growth has again reached double-digit figures.’
    • ‘Generous employers will pay a double-digit percentage of your salary towards your pension.’
    • ‘Just counting the pairs of shoes in the hall cupboard rapidly amounts to double-digit figures.’
    • ‘Two years after this, in 1990, we had double-digit general inflation.’
    • ‘In the seventies we were racked with economic problems like huge inflation and double-digit unemployment.’
    • ‘Low interest rates and double-digit house price inflation have led to a big increase in equity withdrawal in the past couple of years.’
    • ‘After four years of double-digit growth, house-price inflation is expected to slow this year.’
    • ‘Five years ago, most eastern European nations were battling double-digit inflation.’
    • ‘When you tack on inflation, it will be spectacular double-digit growth.’
    • ‘A double-digit increase in the economy was possible and unemployment would be gradually reduced, he said.’
    • ‘While not a double-digit increase like those of the past five years, it is still higher than the estimated inflation rate.’
    • ‘Rentals cost nearly five dollars and first run films are edging ever closer to double-digit prices.’
    • ‘It means their double-digit profit margins aren't high enough to satisfy Wall Street.’
    • ‘The general view was the high double-digit growth achieved by the group over much of the past 20 years was about to end.’
    • ‘During 2001, a sharp correction arrived after several years of double-digit growth.’
    • ‘Home-owners face soaring bills this autumn amid predictions of a fresh round of double-digit energy price increases.’
    • ‘We've just announced our seventh half year of double-digit earnings growth and we're going to see much more of that coming in future.’

noun

North American double digits
another term for double figures
  • ‘Unemployment in the high-tech sector remains stubbornly in double digits.’
  • ‘He won't reveal the fund's returns, saying only that they've averaged in the double digits since its launch in 2000.’
  • ‘Unemployment that should hover around 5-6 per cent gradually moves to double digits.’
  • ‘He added that although credit growth is expected to ease over the rest of the year because of higher interest rates, growth would remain well into the double digits.’
  • ‘A year later, he signed with the Celtics, and since his second season in Boston has never averaged below double digits as a scorer.’
  • ‘He averaged in double digits, which was pretty good for a guy who focused so much of his energy on the defensive side of the game.’
  • ‘Failure rates at the police academy have jumped into double digits from the 3 to 5 percent that once was the norm.’
  • ‘I think he's somewhere in the double digits, somewhere between 10 and 20.’
  • ‘At this rate you'll hit double digits by the time you polish off a slice of apple pie after dinner (it counts, but no ice cream).’
  • ‘He finishes in single digits or very low double digits.’
  • ‘We have a lead, according to some polls, in the double digits.’
  • ‘Distill those, and you'll get a proof in the high double digits.’
  • ‘This case begins with a report showing that the prices on top selling prescription drugs jumped by double digits again.’
  • ‘I think capital expenditures are already starting to grow by double digits.’
  • ‘Even in growth times, Germany experiences unemployment rates close to double digits.’
  • ‘I mean, the number of serious relationships I've had has not been into double digits.’
  • ‘I've gone from an asterisk to double digits in the span of just a couple of weeks.’
  • ‘Organized labor is down to less than double digits in representation of the work force.’
  • ‘Office take-up levels next year are likely to be similar to the 175,000 square metres achieved this year but vacancy rates will remain in double digits.’
  • ‘Typically a good score is anything in double digits.’

Pronunciation

double-digit