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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Very common

Data

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Data (noun) means Facts, figures, or other information, especially when collected for analysis or used by a computer. Example: “The scientists spent months collecting data before drawing any conclusions.”

noun
1
Facts, figures, or other information, especially when collected for analysis or used by a computer.
"The scientists spent months collecting data before drawing any conclusions."
"Make sure to back up your data before updating the software."

How to use Data

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishInformation, especially numbers or facts, that can be recorded, measured, or processed.

Common mistake

Strictly, "data" is the plural of "datum," so traditional style guides pair it with "are" ("the data are clear"). In everyday and most modern usage, "data" is treated as a mass noun and takes "is" ("the data is clear") — both are widely accepted today.

Easily confused with
datum →
Common pairings
collect data data analysis personal data a data set
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The scientists spent months collecting _____ before drawing any conclusions.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin "data," the plural of "datum," meaning "(a thing) given." It entered English as a scientific and statistical term before becoming everyday vocabulary in the computer age.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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information figures statistics facts details metrics datum data point

Antonyms

conjecture assumption

Related words

information guess knowledge Numbers figures facts proof suppose

Rhymes for Data

ATA kata mata Tata Lata Ogata Plata piñata strata sonata Renata Hinata
See all rhymes for Data →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Data” mean?
The word “Data” means facts, figures, or other information, especially when collected for analysis or used by a computer. In plain terms, information, especially numbers or facts, that can be recorded, measured, or processed.
How do you use “Data” in a sentence?
Here is “Data” used in a sentence: “The scientists spent months collecting data before drawing any conclusions.”
What part of speech is “Data”?
“Data” is a noun.
Where does the word “Data” come from?
The word “Data” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Latin "data," the plural of "datum," meaning "(a thing) given." It entered English as a scientific and statistical term before becoming everyday vocabulary in the computer age.
Is “Data” a common word?
“Data” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between data and information?
Data is raw — individual facts, figures, or measurements with no context on their own, like a list of numbers. Information is data that has been processed, organized, and given meaning, so it can be understood and used. In short, information is what you get when data is interpreted.
Is data singular or plural?
Strictly, 'data' is the plural of the Latin 'datum,' so traditionalists write 'the data are clear.' In everyday and modern usage, however, 'data' is usually treated as an uncountable singular: 'the data is clear.' Both are accepted today, and the singular is now standard in general and business writing.
What are the types of data?
Data is often split into quantitative data, which is numerical and measurable, and qualitative data, which describes qualities in words. It can also be classed as structured, neatly organized in tables and databases, or unstructured, like text, images, and video. Which type you have shapes how it is analyzed.
What is an example of data?
A person's height, a shop's daily sales figures, the temperature each hour, or a list of website clicks are all data. On a computer, the contents of a file — text, numbers, images, or sound stored as digits — are data waiting to be read, processed, or analyzed.

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information guess knowledge Numbers figures facts proof suppose