information

noun

in·for·ma·tion | \ ˌin-fər-ˈmā-shən

Definition of information

1 : the communication or reception of knowledge or intelligence

2a(1) : knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction

(2) : intelligence, news

(3) : facts, data

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

Other Words from information Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about information

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Choose the Right Synonym for information

information, knowledge, and learning mean what is or can be known. information may be used of a collection of facts gathered from many places. The book has a lot of information about baseball. knowledge is used for facts and ideas acquired by study, observation, or experience. She has a knowledge of birds. learning is used of knowledge acquired by long and careful study. The learning of a lifetime is in that book.

Examples of information in a Sentence

They're working to collect information about the early settlers in the region. The pamphlet provides a lot of information on recent changes to the tax laws. He gave the police false information about his background. The conference will give us an opportunity to exchange information with other researchers. We can't make a decision until we have more information. The tests have not yet uncovered any new information. I don't like having to reveal personal information when I fill in a job application. He's accused of withholding useful information. I couldn't remember his number so I had to call information.

Recent Examples on the Web

Indeed, a range of counteroffensive tactics can be used against journalists in possession of damaging information. — Ben Widdicombe, Town & Country, "How Much Does It Cost to Keep Your Name Out of the News?," 18 Jan. 2019 Sharing your resources and information is key to making a change across the industry. — Emily Farra, Vogue, "4 Ways the CFDA’s New Sustainability Report Will Change Your Fashion Week Conversations," 16 Jan. 2019 Previously, American officials didn't think the Safir even had a third stage, so previous information about the rocket was either incorrect or the rocket launched yesterday incorporated a new invention. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Iranian Satellite Launch, Seen by Some as Cover for Missile Research, Fails," 15 Jan. 2019 More information on ticket refunds is available on britneyspears.com. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Jamie Lynn Spears Reveals 'Zoey 101' Didn't Actually End Because She Was Pregnant," 10 Jan. 2019 But because fertility naturally starts to decline in your thirties, these companies assert information is power. — Macaela Mackenzie, Glamour, "Do You Need a Fertility Test—Even If You’re Not Trying to Get Pregnant?," 13 Dec. 2018 Built with an extensive network of hundreds of sensors, HouseZero will provide detailed information about the home’s environment, including minute temperatures fluctuations. — Patrick Sisson, Curbed, "Can a remodeled 1920s home revolutionize green building?," 3 Dec. 2018 Now, Hawking's collaborators are left to finish tabulating whether those particles could store enough information to dodge the conflict with quantum mechanics. — Sarah Lewin, Space.com, "Stephen Hawking's Children and Colleagues Discuss Physicist's Final Book, Legacy," 17 Oct. 2018 Sweden’s counterintelligence agency identified fake social-media accounts trying to discredit the country’s September 2018 parliamentary election by spreading false information about vote-rigging. — Elisabeth Braw, WSJ, "Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the Military-Industrial Complex," 2 Jan. 2019

These 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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Dictionary Entries near information

information appliance

information booth

Statistics for information

Last Updated

22 Jan 2019

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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

in·for·ma·tion | \ ˌin-fər-ˈmā-shən

Kids Definition of information

: knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction : facts or details about a subject

information

noun

in·for·ma·tion

Legal 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.