database

noun

da·​ta·​base ˈdā-tə-ˌbās 

ˈda-

also ˈdä-

computers

: a usually large collection of data organized especially for rapid search and retrieval (as by a computer)

an online database

database transitive verb

Examples of database in a Sentence

All of our customers' information was kept in a database.

Recent Examples on the Web

Key Background Larry Ellison cofounded Oracle in 1977 and built it from a database upstart into one of the most valuable software companies in the world. —Alicia Park, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Mecklenburg scores The Mecklenburg County sanitation grades database shows that at least 470 restaurants were inspected in May. —Eva Flowe june 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026

According to the Colorado Secretary of State's database, Vibe Smoke Shop LLC is owned by an Aurora resident, Desalegn Berhane Weldegebriel. —Logan Smith, CBS News, 31 May 2026

In 2005, an adult Michelle was removed from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s database. —Ben Brachfeld, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1962, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for database

• aerospace
• anatase
• anyplace
• commonplace
• cyberspace
• diabase
• diastase
• dnase
• elastase
• fireplace
• hyperspace
• interface

Kids Definition

database

noun

da·​ta·​base ˈdāt-ə-ˌbās 

ˈdat-

also ˈdät-

: a collection of data that is organized especially to be used by a computer