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.

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big data British  

plural noun

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

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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

The firm uses computer-driven strategies to trade based on patterns and signals it sniffs out in markets and big data sets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

"This work moves us further into the big data era of capturing, analyzing and sharing organismal shape and form," Economo said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 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

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