big data

American  

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. Computers. data sets, typically consisting of billions or trillions of records, that are so vast and complex that they require new and powerful computational resources to process.

   Supercomputers can analyze big data to create models of global climate change.

---

big data British  

plural noun

1. computing data held in such large amounts that it can be difficult to process

---

Etymology

Origin of big data

First recorded in 1975–80, for an earlier sense

Example Sentences

“If you are banking on never getting caught in the past for not filing, you’re banking on an old system,” Whatley said, noting the rise of big data and artificial intelligence at the IRS.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

Newly formed regional chapters and working groups are scaling up exposomics research by combining A.I., advanced sensor technology, metabolomics, and big data analytics.

From Science Daily • Feb. 14, 2026

There’s an evergreen lesson today for Wall Street: The market’s first move on a big data release isn’t always the last one.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

This slower pace means big data revisions can more easily reveal the economy is shedding jobs, not adding them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

The demands from the DHS were “unprecedented,” the official added, saying the agency was pressing the IRS to do what amounted to “a big data dump.”

From Salon • Jul. 15, 2025