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

After George Floyd’s killing, Alabama created a database to track allegations against police. —Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026

SpaceX says that its constellation has about 30,000 tracking cameras that are capable of detecting and tracking objects on a continual basis, building up databases that make calculations much faster – minutes instead of hours. —David Szondy february 07, New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2026

Nearly 27,000 Participants Identified as Night Owls The researchers behind the new study analyzed data from more than 322,000 participants, all of whom were enrolled in a large database called the UK Biobank. —Outside, 7 Feb. 2026

The agency might decline to tell you how the database would be used — or, worse, deny that such a database exists at all. —Tressie McMillan Cottom, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 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