noun
Common
phenomena
fih-NOM-ih-nuh
Phenomena (noun) means the plural of "phenomenon" — observable facts, events, or occurrences. Example: “Scientists study natural phenomena like lightning and tides.”
noun
1
The plural of "phenomenon" — observable facts, events, or occurrences.
"Scientists study natural phenomena like lightning and tides."
"Several strange phenomena were reported after the earthquake."
"Rainbows and eclipses are fascinating phenomena that people have wondered about for centuries."
How to use phenomena
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMore than one phenomenon — the plural form.
Common mistake
"Phenomena" is plural; the singular is "phenomenon." Don't write "this phenomena" — it should be "this phenomenon."
Easily confused with
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like phenomena.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- phenomenas, phenomenae
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Scientists study natural _____ like lightning and tides.
Etymology
The Greek-style plural of "phenomenon," formed the same way as words like "criteria" (from "criterion").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for phenomena
See all rhymes for phenomena →Frequently asked questions
What does “phenomena” mean?
The word “phenomena” means the plural of "phenomenon" — observable facts, events, or occurrences. In plain terms, more than one phenomenon — the plural form.
How do you pronounce “phenomena”?
“Phenomena” is pronounced fih-NOM-ih-nuh (/fɪˈnɑm.ɪ.nə/ in IPA).
How do you use “phenomena” in a sentence?
Here is “phenomena” used in a sentence: “Scientists study natural phenomena like lightning and tides.”
What part of speech is “phenomena”?
“Phenomena” is a noun.
Where does the word “phenomena” come from?
The word “phenomena” comes from Greek. The Greek-style plural of "phenomenon," formed the same way as words like "criteria" (from "criterion").
Is “phenomena” a common word?
“Phenomena” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between phenomena and phenomenon?
Phenomenon is the singular form and phenomena is its plural. Both refer to observable facts, events, or occurrences, but phenomenon describes a single instance while phenomena refers to more than one.
Is phenomena singular or plural?
Phenomena is plural. It is the plural form of "phenomenon," so it should be used with plural verbs, as in "these phenomena are" rather than "this phenomena is."
Is it correct to say 'this phenomena'?
No, "this phenomena" is grammatically incorrect because phenomena is a plural noun. The correct singular form is "this phenomenon," while "these phenomena" is correct for the plural.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include phenomena:
