data

American  

[dey-tuh, dat-uh] / ˈdeɪ tə, ˈdæt ə /

noun

1. (usually used with a singular verb) information in digital format, as encoded text or numbers, or multimedia images, audio, or video.

   The data was corrupted and can’t be retrieved.

   Data is entered for immediate processing by the computer.

2. (used with a singular verb) a body of facts; information.

   Additional data is available from the president of the firm.

3. (used with a plural verb) individual facts, statistics, or items of information.

   These data represent the results of our analyses.

4. a plural of datum.

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data British  

/ ˈdeɪtə, ˈdɑːtə /

plural noun

1. a series of observations, measurements, or facts; information

2. Also called: information.  computing the information operated on by a computer program

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Usage

Data is a plural of datum, which is originally a Latin noun meaning “something given.” Today, data is used in English both as a plural noun meaning “facts or pieces of information” ( These data are described more fully elsewhere ) and as a singular mass noun meaning “information” ( Not much data is available on flood control in Brazil ). It is usually treated as a plural in scientific and academic writing. In the digital or computer sense it is almost always treated as a mass noun and used with a singular verb. In other types of writing it is either singular or plural. The Latinate singular datum meaning “a piece of information” is now rare in all types of writing. In surveying and civil engineering, where datum has specialized senses, the plural form is datums.

Although now often used as a singular noun, data is properly a plural

Other Word Forms

• predata noun

Etymology

Origin of data

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin, plural of datum ( def. )

Explanation

Data is information such as facts and numbers used to analyze something or make decisions. Computer data is information in a form that can be processed by a computer. Data is the plural of Latin datum, "something given." In scientific use, the word data is often considered to be a plural noun meaning "pieces of information": The data are reliable. But most people think of data as a mass noun meaning "information" and use the word with a singular verb and pronoun: The data is reliable because it was tested by experts.

Example Sentences

Elon Musk’s Colossus 2 data center uses the equivalent water of two-and-a-half In-N-Out joints.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Weapons were found in nearly two thirds of searches at Cardiff schools over a six-month period, new data has revealed.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Medicare Advantage plans had 35.5 million enrollees as of February 2026, up 3.2% from 34.4 million enrollees as of February 2025, according to data from CMS.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026

Demand is soaring, thanks in part to power-hungry AI data centers that have sparked an electricity-building boom not seen since the post-World War II era.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

To understand and protect the white shark population, first, biologists must collect age data.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

Related Words

• dossier
• evidence
• goods
• info
• input
• knowledge
• picture
• statistics
• testimony