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datum

noun
da·​tum | \ ˈdā-təm How to pronounce datum (audio) , ˈda- How to pronounce datum (audio) , ˈdä-\

Definition of datum

1 plural data\ ˈdā-​tə How to pronounce data (audio) , ˈda-​ How to pronounce data (audio) also  ˈdä-​ How to pronounce data (audio)\ : something given or admitted especially as a basis for reasoning or inference an important historical datum This enormous expense—and considerable risk—to pick up a datum or two about geriatrics?— Charles Krauthammer
2 plural datums, mathematics : something used as a basis for calculating or measuring measuring the distance between datum points … make things more efficient for those of us whose work requires a time datum.— Robert Steinbrunn
Synonyms Is data singular or plural?: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about datum

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Is data singular or plural?: Usage Guide

Data leads a life of its own quite independent of datum, of which it was originally the plural. It occurs in two constructions: as a plural noun (like earnings), taking a plural verb and plural modifiers (such as these, many, a few) but not cardinal numbers, and serving as a referent for plural pronouns (such as they, them); and as an abstract mass noun (like information), taking a singular verb and singular modifiers (such as this, much, little), and being referred to by a singular pronoun (it). Both constructions are standard. The plural construction is more common in print, evidently because the house style of several publishers mandates it.

Examples of datum in a Sentence

let's begin our discussion of this matter with a datum from actual experience

Recent Examples on the Web

 The latest census data show that Baltimore’s population has fallen every year for the last four years, including a decline of 7,346 people, or 1.2% of city residents, last year alone. — Baltimore Sun Staff, baltimoresun.com, "Johns Hopkins expands borders of Live Near Your Work program to increase Baltimore homeownership," 4 Sep. 2019 Gonorrhea rates hit historic lows in the U.S. in 2009, but have increased by more than 75 percent since then, CDC data shows. — Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, "'Extreme' personal grooming isn't linked to increased risk of STIs," 4 Sep. 2019 Nearly 1,100 flights going in and out of Florida had been canceled by early Tuesday, data from Flightaware.com showed. — Christina Maxouris, CNN, "Millions in the US are under hurricane and storm alerts as Dorian's outer bands reach parts of Florida," 3 Sep. 2019 Even without Meadowlands events underway, some streets see in excess of 100,000 automobiles a day, state data show. — Fortune, "Reaching the American Dream: a Traffic Nightmare?," 3 Sep. 2019 Ellison isn’t alone on this: stock market data shows that investors are increasingly worried that bank profits are set to suffer. — John Detrixhe, Quartz, "Low interest rates could be a “Blockbuster Video moment” for the world’s biggest banks," 3 Sep. 2019 Reports of anti-Semitic hate crimes rose to 145, up from 88, through Aug. 25 as compared with the same period last year, police data show. — New York Times, "Racist and Anti-Semitic Graffiti Shock a Beachfront Oasis," 1 Sep. 2019 The latest data from the California Department of Insurance shows that property-casualty coverage for homes and businesses was already becoming harder to find due to fire losses in 2015 and 2017. — Ed Leefeldt, CBS News, "After wildfires, hundreds of thousands of Californians can't get insurance," 30 Aug. 2019 Safety precautions will include starting the work on nights and weekends and then moving to round-the-clock operations when data on chemical vapors shows the working conditions are safe. — Annette Cary, The Seattle Times, "After years of preparation, work to empty Hanford leak-prone waste tanks is ready to restart," 30 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'datum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of datum

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for datum

Latin, from neuter of datus

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More Definitions for datum

datum

noun
How to pronounce datum (audio) How to pronounce datum (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of datum

formal + technical : a single piece of information

See the full definition for datum in the English Language Learners Dictionary

datum

noun
da·​tum | \ ˈdā-təm How to pronounce datum (audio) , ˈda-, ˈdä-\
plural data\ -​tə \ or datums

Kids Definition of datum

: a single piece of information : fact

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