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

Here is the City of Boston's entire database (25,000 and then some rows long). —Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026

More than 1,400 endowment grants valued at $427 million have been terminated nationwide as of April 8, 2025, according to a database created by the Association for Computers and Humanities. —Sara Bedigian, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026

The brokers who embraced customer relationship management systems built deeper databases. —Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026

The profile was run through the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a national DNA database, and the hair was consistent with Froberg's DNA, according to the complaint. —Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 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