In mathematics, a prime number is a whole number greater than 1 that cannot be divided exactly by any whole number except itself and the number 1, for example 17.
prime number in British English
noun
an integer that cannot be factorized into other integers but is only divisible by itself or 1, such as 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11
Sometimes shortened to: prime. Compare composite number
prime number in American English
an integer that can be evenly divided by no other whole number than itself or 1, as 2, 3, 5, or 7