information
ihn-fuh-MAY-shn
Information (noun) means Facts or knowledge provided or learned about something. Example: “The leaflet contains useful information about local bus routes.”
noun
1
Facts or knowledge provided or learned about something.
"The leaflet contains useful information about local bus routes."
"She refused to give the reporters any further information."
"Could you give me some information about the opening hours?"
2
A formal accusation of a crime brought before a court without a grand jury.
"Prosecutors filed an information charging him with fraud."
"The state filed an information against the shopkeeper instead of calling a grand jury."
"A judge reviewed the information to decide whether the case could proceed."
How to use information
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFacts, details, or knowledge about something.
Common mistake
"Information" is uncountable in everyday use — say "a piece of information," not "an information."
Common pairings
gather information
share information
piece of information
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Word forms
- Plural
- informations
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The leaflet contains useful _____ about local bus routes.
Etymology
From Old French information, from Latin informatio, "a forming of an idea," from informare — see inform.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for information
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for information →
Frequently asked questions
What does “information” mean?
The word “information” means facts or knowledge provided or learned about something. In plain terms, facts, details, or knowledge about something.
How do you pronounce “information”?
“Information” is pronounced ihn-fuh-MAY-shn (/ˌɪn.fɚˈmeɪ.ʃn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “information” in a sentence?
Here is “information” used in a sentence: “The leaflet contains useful information about local bus routes.”
What part of speech is “information”?
“Information” is a noun.
Where does the word “information” come from?
The word “information” comes from Latin. From Old French information, from Latin informatio, "a forming of an idea," from informare — see inform.
Is “information” a common word?
“Information” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “information” have?
“Information” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: facts or knowledge provided or learned about something.
What is the difference between information and data?
Data is raw, unprocessed material, such as numbers, measurements, or facts with no context. Information is data that has been organized or interpreted so it means something. A list of temperatures is data; "this week was colder than last" is information drawn from it. Information answers a question; data alone often does not.
What is the difference between information and knowledge?
Information is facts provided or learned about something and can exist on a page or screen. Knowledge is information that a person has absorbed, understood, and can use. You gather information by reading; it becomes knowledge once you truly grasp it and can apply it. Knowledge lives in the mind; information can sit anywhere.
Is "information" countable?
No. "Information" is an uncountable noun, so it takes no plural and no "a." You cannot say "an information" or "informations." Instead you quantify it with phrases like "a piece of information," "a bit of information," or "some information." The verb stays singular: "the information is helpful."
What is an example of information?
A train timetable is information: it tells you facts about departure times. So are a product's price, a recipe's ingredients, a weather forecast, or directions to a friend's house. Anything that gives you facts or knowledge about a subject counts as information, whether spoken, written, or shown on a screen.
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