phenomena

noun phe·nom·e·na \ fi-ˈnä-mə-nə , -ˌnä \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Usage guide: Can phenomena be used as a singular?

Definition of phenomena

plural phenomenas

nonstandard

: phenomenon

Can phenomena be used as a singular?

Phenomena has been in occasional use as a singular since the early 18th century, as has the plural phenomenas. Our evidence shows that singular phenomena is primarily a speech form used by poets, critics, and professors, among others, but one that sometimes turns up in edited prose.

- Although it seemed like a fad a few years ago, Twitter has evolved into a phenomena with more than 200 million users …
- —Myron P. Medcalf

It is etymologically no more irregular than stamina and agenda, but it has nowhere near the frequency of use that they have, and while they are standard, phenomena is still rather borderline.

Recent Examples of phenomena from the Web

The swirling phenomena was seen tearing through Okaloosa Island, passing over a sound then making landfall in Fort Walton Beach, according to WEAR-TV.

— Fox News, "Watch powerful waterspout churn through Florida beach," 23 Apr. 2018
There is a cultural phenomena where women are paid less than men.

— alan murray, Fortune, "Sorrell Out, Shire Slims, Data Monopolies: CEO Daily for April 16, 2018," 16 Apr. 2018
Pele's hair joins a growing list of bizarre volcanic phenomena lingo that also includes laze and vog.

— doyle rice, USA TODAY, "Yes, 'Pele's hair' is falling from the sky in Hawaii," 30 May 2018
This phenomena was well documented by IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel.

— dakota crawford, Indianapolis Star, "LeBron James' lane violation was called in Cavs-Raptors Game 1 and Pacers fans are miffed," 2 May 2018
Business investment and household welfare are not distinct phenomena.

— joseph c. sternberg, WSJ, "Britain’s Monetary ‘Stimulus’ Has Fed the Pension Crisis," 29 Mar. 2018
Other people’s sicknesses, as bodily phenomena, must be imagined or taken on trust, since they can never quite be transmitted across the gap.

— lidija haas, The New Yorker, "Memoirs of Disease and Disbelief," 17 June 2014
The Fringe has a grand tradition of raunchy musical parodies of pop culture phenomena.

— trevor fraser, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Review: S#IT: Unauthorized Musical Parody of Stephen King's It - Fringe 2018," 14 May 2018
The area showcases five distinct geological periods, and contains fossils, glacial phenomena, and other features that tell the history of Percé and the surrounding area.

— kari bodnarchuk, BostonGlobe.com, "Here, there, and everywhere," 9 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'phenomena.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.