phenomenon

noun phe·nom·e·non \ fi-ˈnä-mə-ˌnän , -nən \

|Updated on: 9 Jul 2018

Usage guide: Can phenomena be used as a singular?

Examples: phenomenon in a Sentence

Definition of phenomenon

plural phenomena play \fi-ˈnä-mə-nə, -ˌnä\ or phenomenons

1 plural phenomena : an observable fact or event

2 plural phenomena

a : an object or aspect known through the senses rather than by thought or intuition

b : a temporal or spatiotemporal object of sensory experience as distinguished from a noumenon

c : a fact or event of scientific interest susceptible to scientific description and explanation

3 a : a rare or significant fact or event

b plural phenomenons : an exceptional, unusual, or abnormal person, thing, or occurrence

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See phenomenon defined for kids

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.

Examples of phenomenon in a Sentence

For example, we talk more loudly in cars, because of a phenomenon known as the Lombard effect—the speaker involuntarily raises his voice to compensate for background noise. —John Seabrook, New Yorker, 23 June 2008
This follow-the-winemaker phenomenon is a unique wrinkle in our wine culture. —James Laube, Wine Spectator, 15 May 2008
Contrary to the notion that war is a continuation of policy by other means … , both Keegan and Mueller find that war is a cultural product rather than a phenomenon or law of nature and therefore subject, like other modes of human expression (the wearing of togas or powdered wigs, the keeping of slaves, the art of cave painting), to the falling out of fashion. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, September 2007
The days and nights of the Irish pub, smoky and dark and intimate, are giving way to another phenomenon: the superpub. These are immense places, loud with music; part honkytonk, part dance hall, some servicing as many as a thousand drinkers on several floors. —Pete Hamill, Gourmet, April 2007
They were ephemera and phenomena on the face of a contemporary scene. That is, there was really no place for them in the culture, in the economy, yet they were there, at that time, and everyone knew that they wouldn't last very long, which they didn't. —William Faulkner, letter, 7 Mar. 1957
natural phenomena like lightning and earthquakes
the greatest literary phenomenon of the decade
The movie eventually became a cultural phenomenon.

Recent Examples of phenomenon from the Web

Brunch is one of those odd cultural phenomena that defy explanation.

— sarah nardi, Chicago Reader, "The Bongo Room turns 25: A look back at Wicker Park's beloved brunch spot," 5 July 2018
Mindfulness — the cultural phenomenon — threatens to overrun Lazar’s findings.

— cindy dampier, chicagotribune.com, "Mindfulness is not just a buzzword, it's a multibillion dollar industry. Here's the truth about the hype," 2 July 2018
Jackie Chan stars as a Hong Kong police detective battling a robotic nemesis, searching for his missing daughter and connecting the dots to a strange cultural phenomenon.

— kevin crust, latimes.com, "L.A. movie openings, July 4-6," 1 July 2018
Neymar has the kind of near-mythical status that the soccer-mad nation of Brazil reserves for its most treasured stars, a cultural phenomenon as much as a soccer one.

— martin rogers, USA TODAY, "Is Neymar really Brazil's 'problem child'?," 28 June 2018
Overall traffic fatalities drop Pedestrians deaths are not a new phenomenon.

— Detroit Free Press, "Death on foot," 28 June 2018
Twitter trolls target the media This is not the first time reporters' Twitter accounts have been used to make false information seem more legitimate, though targeting the media is a relatively new phenomena.

— dakota crawford, Indianapolis Star, "How the account that lied about Harley-Davidson's CEO used IndyStar to spread fake news," 28 June 2018
The first two seasons of Netflix’s Stranger Things were a cultural phenomenon, and there’s been plenty of tie-in merchandise to go along with it.

— andrew liptak, The Verge, "Stranger Things is getting a prequel tie-in novel," 8 June 2018
The wide reach of Miranda’s work begs the question of historians: is the inspirational benefit of this cultural phenomenon worth looking past its missteps?

— kate keller, Smithsonian, "The Issue on the Table: Is “Hamilton” Good For History?," 30 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of phenomenon

Late Latin phaenomenon, from Greek phainomenon, from neuter of phainomenos, present participle of phainesthai to appear, middle voice of phainein to show — more at fancy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1605

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

phenomenon Synonyms

Synonyms

caution, flash, marvel, miracle, portent, prodigy, sensation, splendor, wonder;

Related Words

curiosity, sight, spectacle;

beauty, corker, crackerjack (also crackajack), dandy, jim-dandy, knockout;

apparition, appearance;

PHENOMENON Defined for English Language Learners

phenomenon

noun

Definition of phenomenon for English Language Learners

: something (such as an interesting fact or event) that can be observed and studied and that typically is unusual or difficult to understand or explain fully
: someone or something that is very impressive or popular especially because of an unusual ability or quality