phenomenon

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

Updated on: 14 May 2018

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

The data has uncovered an interesting phenomenon: one volunteer can beget another.

— special to the oregonian, OregonLive.com, "In the crosshairs of conscience: John Kitzhaber's death penalty reckoning," 5 May 2018
Experts say younger girls wearing them is an increasingly common phenomenon.

— jane onyanga-omara, USA TODAY, "Austria wants to ban headscarves in elementary schools and kindergartens," 4 Apr. 2018
An equal-opportunity phenomenon, this sharing of adult kids.

— sally friedman, Philly.com, "I hate to share my family on Passover: A confessional," 29 Mar. 2018
Far from an exclusively modern or American phenomenon, the practice of making class statements with one’s clothes extends deep into the past, and is a constant across a myriad of disparate global cultures.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "How the Technicolor Ikat Designs of Central Asia Thread Into Textile History," 26 Mar. 2018
Zwi said people her age are committed to ending gun violence and school shootings, which have been an American phenomenon her entire life.

— kevin rector, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore students meet with suburban Maryland, Parkland peers ahead of March for Our Lives rally in D.C.," 23 Mar. 2018
Quietly, behind the daily noise of Trumpian politics, bickering world religions, and dark environmental warnings, an unquestionable civilization-changing phenomenon is occurring: the 50-year old microprocessor continues to evolve, exponentially.

— zoltan istvan, Newsweek, "Quantum Archaeology: The Quest to 3D Bioprint Every Dead Person Back to Life," 9 Mar. 2018
In the summer of 2014, the grim situation prompted a goofy fundraising campaign that became an internet phenomenon.

— anne saker, Cincinnati.com, "For Paul Rinderknecht, living with ALS, a 'right to try' is a chance to live," 22 Feb. 2018
The rise of storm tourism has been an unexpected and perhaps counterintuitive phenomenon.

— todd plummer, Vogue, "Storm Tourism: Why Bad Weather Makes These Destinations Even Better," 16 Feb. 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