datum

[ dey-tuhm, dat-uhm, dah-tuhm ]

noun

plural data datums

1. a single piece of information, as a fact, statistic, or code; an item of data.
2. Philosophy.
   1. any fact assumed to be a matter of direct observation.
   2. any proposition assumed or given, from which conclusions may be drawn.
3. Also called sense datum. Epistemology. the object of knowledge as presented to the mind. Compare ideatum.
4. Surveying, Civil Engineering. any level surface, line, or point used as a reference in measuring elevations.
5. Surveying. a basis for horizontal control surveys, consisting of the longitude and latitude of a certain point, the azimuth of a certain line from this point, and two constants used in defining the terrestrial spheroid.

datum

/ ˈdeɪtəm; ˈdɑːtəm /

noun

1. a single piece of information; fact
2. a proposition taken for granted, often in order to construct some theoretical framework upon it; a given See also sense datum

Usage Note

See data.

Word History and Origins

Origin of datum¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin: “a thing given,” neuter past participle of dare “to give”

Word History and Origins

Origin of datum¹

C17: from Latin: something given; see data

Example Sentences

Recent data from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office also found that the number of reported street takeovers has dropped in nearly every supervisorial district in the county except for the district represented by Mitchell.

From Los Angeles Times

Police said they were seeking a man called Wilmane Jean, who is named in the customs data as the consignee for the shipment - the person responsible for receiving it.

From BBC

Other research groups have put forward alternative, lifeless, explanations for the data obtained from K2-18b.

From BBC

Such features can then fall below the resolution of the network, meaning they will smear out in the data.

From Salon

Dividing Holmes from the average doubting conspiracy theorist is his reliance on empirical data.

From Salon

Related Words

• accomplishment
• action
• case
• circumstance
• data
• evidence
• experience
• factor
• incident
• information
• performance
• phenomenon
• statistic