Main Entry: phe·nom·e·non

Pronunciation: \fi-ˈnä-mə-ˌnän, -nən\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural phe·nom·e·na \-nə, -ˌnä\ or phe·nom·e·nons

Etymology: Late Latin phaenomenon, from Greek phainomenon, from neuter of phainomenos, present participle of phainesthai to appear, middle voice of phainein to show — more at fancy

Date: 1605

1 plural phenomena : an observable fact or event
2 plural phenomena a : an object or aspect known through the senses rather than by thought or intuition b : a temporal or spatiotemporal object of sensory experience as distinguished from a noumenon c : a fact or event of scientific interest susceptible to scientific description and explanation
3 a : a rare or significant fact or event b plural phenomenons : an exceptional, unusual, or abnormal person, thing, or occurrence

usage see phenomena