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

In the week after Donald Trump’s 2016 election, 17,000 U.S. citizens registered to receive information about New Zealand’s residency requirements, 13 times as many as in the previous year. — Klara Glowczewska, Town & Country, "We Should All Just Move to New Zealand," 17 Jan. 2019 The company has been accused of putting false information on its platform from advertisers that can sometimes lead to deadly misinformation. — Shirin Ghaffary, Recode, "Everything you need to know about Google’s controversial China plans in advance of today’s congressional hearing," 11 Dec. 2018 Starting in 1998, Sater received valuable information from an Afghan officer: five satellite phone numbers belonging to one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, Osama bin Laden. — Alex Ward, Vox, "Felix Sater, the spy, criminal, and mafia-linked business executive tied to Trump, explained," 6 Dec. 2018 Portions of the roughly 400-page report of the investigation into Russian election interference will be blacked out, as Mr. Barr and other top Justice Department officials have spent the past three weeks reviewing it for sensitive information. — Sadie Gurman, WSJ, "Mueller Report Expected to Be Released Thursday," 15 Apr. 2019 The day whizzes by, and we are exhausted from all of the new information in our heads. — Annemarie Conte, Woman's Day, "What We Learned After Baking Nothing But Bread for 3 Days," 9 Apr. 2019 Visit this website for more information on how to apply or nominate a family for consideration. — Kelly O'sullivan, Country Living, "HGTV Is Now Casting Families for 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'," 1 Apr. 2019 The Justice Department said Fresenius failed to provide timely responses to requests for information, that the alleged misconduct continued until 2016 and that the company hasn’t yet tested the effectiveness of its compliance enhancements. — Michael Dabaie, WSJ, "Fresenius to Pay More Than $231 Million to Resolve Foreign Corruption Probe," 29 Mar. 2019 For more information on how to plan your visit, head to highgrovegardens.com. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Prince Charles's Private Gardens at Highgrove House Will Open to Visitors Later This Spring," 14 Mar. 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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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

US : 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.