Definition

factual information (such as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation //We spent hours reviewing data from the experiment. //They made their decisions based on the survey data. //The data is plentiful and easily available. — H. A. Gleason, Jr. //The city saw about 15 more cloudy days this year compared with the previous years, the data show. — Rebecca Ellis and Phi Do
information in digital form that can be transmitted or processed //an expert in data retrieval //There was too much data for the computer to process.
philosophy information that is output by a sensing device or organ and that must be processed to be meaningful //According to an old philosophical and psychological tradition, sensation is an essentially passive affair; the senses present us with data and we have no choice but to accept. — W. H. Walsh

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

facts information

Is data singular or plural?

Data comes from the plural of datum, a technical word that refers to a single piece of information. Data continues to function as a plural, especially in technical and formal writing, taking a plural verb and plural modifiers (such as these, many, a few). //The data are compelling. //These data are incorrect. //More data are needed. //As for the data currently available, they are inconclusive. More commonly, however, data refers to masses or collections of pieces of information, and functions much like the word information itself, taking a singular verb and singular modifiers (such as this, much, little). //The data is compelling. //Little data is available. //That data is flawed. //Is this data accurate? //As for the data we've seen, it's inconclusive. Both constructions are standard.

Examples

//we are putting together all the data we have obtained on the local housing market

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology

Latin, plural of datum — see datum

data

plural noun

Synonyms

a collection of factual knowledge about something //we are putting together all the data we have obtained on the local housing market
Synonyms

facts information
Related Words

findings intelligence