phenomenon

American  

[fi-nom-uh-non, -nuhn] / fɪˈnɒm əˌnɒn, -nən /

noun

• phenomena,
  plural
• phenomenons
  plural

1. 

   a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable.

   to study the phenomena of nature.

   Synonyms:

   incident, event

2. something that is impressive or extraordinary.

   Synonyms:

   miracle, marvel

3. a remarkable or exceptional person; prodigy; wonder.

   Synonyms:

   miracle, marvel

4. Philosophy.

   1. an appearance or immediate object of awareness in experience.

   2. Kantianism. a thing as it appears to and is constructed by the mind, as distinguished from a noumenon, or thing-in-itself.

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phenomenon British  

/ fɪˈnɒmɪnən /

noun

1. anything that can be perceived as an occurrence or fact by the senses

2. any remarkable occurrence or person

3. philosophy

   1. the object of perception, experience, etc

   2. (in the writings of Kant) a thing as it appears and is interpreted in perception and reflection, as distinguished from its real nature as a thing-in-itself Compare noumenon

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Usage

What does phenomenon mean? Phenomenon most generally refers to an observable occurrence or circumstance. For example, a hurricane is a kind of weather phenomenon. Phenomenon is also commonly used to refer to an extraordinary event or something that becomes the subject of widespread interest and attention, as in The movie has become a worldwide phenomenon. Sometimes, phenomenon refers to a person with an extraordinary talent or ability, especially a relatively young person who is considered a prodigy. The word phenom (a shortened form of phenomenon) is commonly used to mean the same thing, as in She became an internationally known chess phenom when she was just 14 years old. The plural of phenomenon is phenomena. The adjective phenomenal is most commonly used to mean highly extraordinary or exceptional, as in It was a phenomenal display of skill. It can also be used more generally to mean relating to phenomena in some way, as in My philosophy paper deals with the phenomenal qualities of existence. Example: Halley’s comet is a phenomenon that occurs every 76 years.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• phenomena
  plural
• phenomenons
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of phenomenon

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin phaenomenon, from Greek phainómenon “appearance,” noun use of neuter of phainómenos, present participle of phaínesthai “to appear, become visible,” passive of phaínein “to show, bring to light, make known”

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Explanation

A phenomenon is an extraordinary occurrence or circumstance. In the 1950s, rock-n-roll was considered a new cultural phenomenon, while today we think of crop circles as a mysterious phenomenon. Like many words with Greek roots, phenomenon started out as a science term. Scientists used it (and still do) to describe any event or fact that could be observed, amazing or not. An earthquake, for example, was a phenomenon, because you could see it (and hear it and feel it). Phenomenon is an example of a word having a specific meaning for one group of people that gets changed when used by the general public.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phenomenon phenomena phenomenons

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently pledged to look into the phenomenon of electromagnetic sensitivity, as increasing numbers of people claim they are being sickened by radio waves.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

“La Bola Negra” has already become a box-office phenomenon in Spain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

What began as a technical workaround ultimately enabled the researchers to explore a more interesting version of the phenomenon, one in which matter and the field could participate together in the quantum dynamics.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

Here is a look at how this year's phenomenon, in which a warmer sea surface shifts global weather patterns, has been affecting people globally:

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

In Greek there was the phenomenon, but the phenomena were malleable—they could be ‘saved’ or ‘salved’; while facts are stubborn.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

They also offer astronomers a more reliable way to anticipate one of the universe's most dramatic phenomena: the moment a black hole begins launching a powerful jet into space.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

The anonymous account, whose picture resembled a "Jujutsu Kaisen" character dubbed by Tsuda, combined images and seemingly AI-generated speech about urban legends, occult phenomena and conspiracy theories.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

They combined images and seemingly AI-generated speech about urban legends, occult phenomena and conspiracy theories.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

The additional data could also allow researchers to apply more sophisticated quantum information techniques to particle physics, potentially increasing the sensitivity of future searches for previously unknown phenomena.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

Studies have been done, in fact, in which experts in a given field have analyzed such random phenomena and come up with cogent “explanations” for the patterns.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

And now they are poised to begin that most rare of modern phenomenons - a multi-week tour that includes a proper Test series.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

The regional deluge was caused by the combined effect of two weather phenomenons, El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole, said Nazanine Moshiri, a climate analyst at the International Crisis Group.

From Reuters ● Nov. 8, 2023

But the story’s been somewhat different from other global phenomenons like Squid Game, whose English subtitles came under fire for being woefully inaccurate.

From The Verge ● May 19, 2022

To be sure, phenomenons are harder to come by these days, as content overload and paywalls slice the audience into thinner portions; all you needed to watch the original version was a television.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2021

Their disappearances were phenomenons that happened every time Hyacinth gave Franz a bath.

From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser

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Related Words

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• aspect
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• episode
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• fact
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• miracle
• paradox
• reality
• sensation

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