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

The government's national toll of at least 265 dead and 500 missing lags far behind counts from local authorities, while an independent database lists over 4,100 as unaccounted for. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

Civilian-run databases put the number of missing at more than 4,100. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Sergeant Williams has spent a lot of time searching DNA databases. — Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026

The company's recent Lakebase database for AI agents has already surpassed a $100 million revenue run rate, Databricks said. — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 13 Aug. 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