database

American

[dey-tuh-beys] / ˈdeɪ təˌbeɪs /

Or data-base,

noun

a comprehensive collection of related data organized for convenient access, generally in a computer.
data bank.

database British

/ ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs /

noun

a systematized collection of data that can be accessed immediately and manipulated by a data-processing system for a specific purpose
informal any large store of information

a database of knowledge

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

database Scientific

/ dā′tə-bās′,dăt′ə- /

A collection of data arranged for ease and speed of search and retrieval by a computer.

database Cultural

A set of data grouped together in one location in (or accessible by) a computer. A computerized database has been likened to an electronic filing cabinet of information arranged for easy access or for a specific purpose.

Etymology

Origin of database

First recorded in 1965–70; data + base ¹

Explanation

A database is an organized body of information. Libraries have lots of databases to help you find books, articles, or information. Looking for some information? You might need to check a database, probably at the library or online. A database collects a bunch of information and resources, usually on a common subject. Some databases feature newspapers; others are related to legal issues. The police use databases to track criminals, and the government uses databases to track terrorists. Anywhere there's information being collected and accessed, there's probably a database keeping track of it all.

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Vocabulary lists containing database

Computer Science and Technology - Introductory

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s illegal for officers to access that database for non-official reasons.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Last year it registered trademarks in 12 different product categories in Australia, according to a government intellectual property database.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

To get a more accurate and comprehensive analysis of age-related disparities, the analysis starts by constructing a new dataset that links actual housing transactions in the CoreLogic Deeds database to ages in voter-registration records.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

IBM’s reach spans database systems, app developer tools, and other multimodal computing environments that process and analyze several different types of data.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

And that's because of this relational database thing.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023