information
noun
\
Definition of information
1 : the communication or reception of knowledge or intelligence
2a(1) : knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction
(2) : intelligence, news
b : the attribute inherent in and communicated by one of two or more alternative sequences or arrangements of something (such as nucleotides in DNA or binary digits in a computer program) that produce specific effects
c(1) : a signal or character (as in a communication system or computer) representing data
(2) : something (such as a message, experimental data, or a picture) which justifies change in a construct (such as a plan or theory) that represents physical or mental experience or another construct
d : a quantitative measure of the content of information specifically : a numerical quantity that measures the uncertainty in the outcome of an experiment to be performed
3 : the act of informing against a person
4 : a formal accusation of a crime made by a prosecuting officer as distinguished from an indictment presented by a grand jury
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Other words from information
-shə-nᵊl
\
adjective
Synonyms for information
Synonyms
intelligence, item, news, story, tidings, word
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Examples of information in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Police are investigating and ask if anyone has any information to call Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at 305-471-8477. — Howard Cohen, miamiherald, "A car crashed into a tree. When cops arrived, they found the bullet holes.," 13 July 2018 A week after the hurricane made landfall, according to the report, officials had been able to assess about half of the island’s wastewater treatment sites and did not have information on the status of 37 out of 69 hospitals. — Arelis R. Hernandez, OrlandoSentinel.com, "FEMA admits failures in Puerto Rico disaster response, after-action report reveals," 13 July 2018 If any player talks too much, who knows what snatches of information might slip out? — Aarian Marshall, WIRED, "Home From the Honeymoon, the Self-Driving Car Industry Faces Reality," 13 July 2018 A week after the hurricane made landfall, according to the report, officials had been able to assess about half of the island’s wastewater treatment sites and did not have information on the status of 37 out of 69 hospitals. — Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, "FEMA admits failures in Puerto Rico disaster response, in after-action report," 12 July 2018 If anyone has any information about the incident, call Crime Stoppers at (800) SPEAK-UP. — Caroline Blackmon, Detroit Free Press, "Vandals spray painted swastikas, racial slurs in Independence Township," 12 July 2018 If anyone has information, they are asked to contact the detective bureau at (562) 567-9299. — Brittny Mejia, latimes.com, "Whittier police search for man accused of attacking woman with a chainsaw," 12 July 2018 Anyone who has further information about the part of the airport shown in the picture may contact this column. — Paula Allen, San Antonio Express-News, "Experts weigh in on reader's midcentury San Antonio airport photo," 7 July 2018 Whether Ranson, Miller or even Stone or De Sousa engaged in types of conduct that the Justice Department regards as criminal, each is believed to have information relevant to prosecutors. — Michael Mccann, SI.com, "Why Maryland Receiving FBI Subpoenas Should Worry Other College Programs, Basketball Players," 7 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'information.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
The 411 on Words Meaning "Information"
The 411 on Words Meaning "Information"
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Last Updated
17 Sep 2018
Look-up Popularity
Time Traveler for information
The first known use of information was in the 14th century
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More Definitions for information
information
noun
English Language Learners Definition of information
: knowledge that you get about someone or something : facts or details about a subject
: a service that telephone users can call to find out the telephone number for a specified person or organization
See the full definition for information in the English Language Learners Dictionary
information
noun
\
Kids Definition of information
: knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction : facts or details about a subject
information
nounLegal Definition of information
: an instrument containing a formal accusation of a crime that is issued by a prosecuting officer and that serves the same function as an indictment presented by a grand jury — compare complaint sense 2, indictment
Note:
About half the states in the United States allow prosecutors to issue informations. The rest require indictment.
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