phenomena

noun

phe·​nom·​e·​na fi-ˈnä-mə-nə 

-ˌnä

plural phenomenas

nonstandard

: phenomenon

Can phenomena be used as a singular?: Usage Guide

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.

Examples of phenomena in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to urban anthropologist Melissa Checker, public green spaces like parks raise property values in surrounding neighborhoods, thereby aiding urban displacement phenomena like gentrification. —JSTOR Daily, 14 Nov. 2025

Storiculture, ProducerLAND’s parent company, aims for the pilot program to establish architecture for storytelling phenomena from the Global South, rather than simply franchises. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Nov. 2025

Speckled throughout is a kaleidoscope of wonder: national parks, natural phenomena, and unspoiled forests filled with wildlife. —Brad Japhe, Travel + Leisure, 12 Nov. 2025

The vice president said the topic often came up in conversations with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, noting that both men have long shared an interest in unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for phenomena

• nomina