data

noun

da·​ta ˈdā-tə  ˈda- 

also

ˈdä- 

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

often attributive

1

: factual information (such as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation

the data is plentiful and easily available

—H. A. Gleason, Jr.

comprehensive data on economic growth have been published

—N. H. Jacoby

2

: information in digital form that can be transmitted or processed

3

: information output by a sensing device or organ that includes both useful and irrelevant or redundant information and must be processed to be meaningful

Is data singular or plural?: Usage Guide

Data leads a life of its own quite independent of datum, of which it was originally the plural. It occurs in two constructions: as a plural noun (like earnings), taking a plural verb and plural modifiers (such as these, many, a few) but not cardinal numbers, and serving as a referent for plural pronouns (such as they, them); and as an abstract mass noun (like information), taking a singular verb and singular modifiers (such as this, much, little), and being referred to by a singular pronoun (it). Both constructions are standard. The plural construction is more common in print, evidently because the house style of several publishers mandates it.

Synonyms

• facts
• information

Example Sentences

Smith, himself a stay-at-home dad and a journalist, mixes accessible summaries of social-science data with anecdotes drawn from interviews with couples in which the men have chosen, or have been compelled by economic circumstance, to become primary caregivers to their children. —Eduardo M. Pealver, Commonweal, 11 Sept. 2009

He plays Chuck Bartowski, a computer-tech expert with the Buy More store's Nerd Herd … who unwittingly becomes a secret agent when government data is downloaded to his brain. —Michael Logan, TV Guide, September 10-16, 2007

As measurements get better and more data pour in, physicists will bring those errors under control and chart exciting new territory. But for many, the wait is a strain. —Charles Seife, Science, 2 May 2003

By studying obscure demographic and economic data, he deduced that the Soviets were in crisis—and spending a far bigger slice of its national income on defense than anyone had suspected. —John Barry et al., Newsweek, 21 May 2001

Recent Examples on the Web

When researching a streamer, our data collection team noted the number of channels and range of genres (news, entertainment, etc.) available, the breadth of sports coverage offered, and the service's compatibility with a variety of devices. —Maddie Topliff, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2023

Graduate vacancies are growing too, but at a slower pace, with an increase of 17% in 2021/22, the data show. —Helen Chandler-wilde, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2023

Most importantly, your ERP infrastructure must have the ability to manage configurations to data structures. —Kevin Beasley, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023

Jack Lee joined The San Francisco Chronicle's Weather Science team in 2022 as a data reporter. —Jessica Flores, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2023

Realme also has plans for an update that will show a step counter and data usage. —Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 9 Mar. 2023

Forty-one companies in the S&P 500 disclosed using supply-chain finance programs in 2022 annual reports, up from 33 the previous year and 15 in 2020, according to data provider MyLogIQ. —Jennifer Williams-alvarez, WSJ, 9 Mar. 2023

Affordability is a big reason, ‘wokeness’ probably not March 9, 2023 From 2019 through 2022, 1.02 million more people moved out of homes and businesses in California than into them, a Times analysis of U.S. Postal Service data shows. —Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2023

The local data storage is expected to cost the company 1.2 billion euros a year, the company said. —Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 8 Mar. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Latin, plural of datum — see datum

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing data

• data structure
• data recovery
• big data
• data file
• data bank
• data mining
• data processing
• flight data recorder

• data structure
• data recovery
• big data
• data file
• data bank
• data mining
• data processing
• flight data recorder

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Kids Definition

data

noun singular or plural

da·​ta ˈdāt-ə  ˈdat- 

 also  ˈdät-

1

: facts about something that can be used in calculating, reasoning, or planning

2

: information in numerical form for use especially in a computer

Medical Definition

data

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

da·​ta ˈdāt-ə  ˈdat-  ˈdät- 

: factual information (as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation

the data is plentiful and easily available

—H. A. Gleason, Jr.

comprehensive data on the incidence of Lyme disease