datum

[dey-tuhm, dat-uhm, dah-tuhm]

noun

plural

data, datums 

1. a single piece of information, as a fact, statistic, or code; an item of data.

2. Philosophy.

   1. any fact assumed to be a matter of direct observation.

   2. any proposition assumed or given, from which conclusions may be drawn.

3. Also called sense datum. Epistemology.,  the object of knowledge as presented to the mind.

4. Surveying, Civil Engineering.,  any level surface, line, or point used as a reference in measuring elevations.

5. Surveying.,  a basis for horizontal control surveys, consisting of the longitude and latitude of a certain point, the azimuth of a certain line from this point, and two constants used in defining the terrestrial spheroid.

datum

/ ˈdeɪtəm, ˈdɑːtəm /

noun

1. a single piece of information; fact

2. a proposition taken for granted, often in order to construct some theoretical framework upon it; a given See also sense datum

Usage

See data.

Word History and Origins

Origin of datum¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin: “a thing given,” neuter past participle of dare “to give”

Word History and Origins

Origin of datum¹

C17: from Latin: something given; see _data

Example Sentences

"Digital ID will give people more control over how their data is used and ensure everyone can access the public services they need," the government spokesperson said.

Read more on Barron's

News that it faced data center construction delays helped drive its shares down 46% this month, though they remain up 79% since the company’s initial public offering in March.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Market expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next monetary policy move are shifting following U.S. employment data, resulting in a “sense of indecision,” writes Julian Pineda, market analyst at Forex.com by StoneX, in commentary.

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With a dearth of economic reports due to the lingering effects of the U.S. government shutdown, any early indications of all-important retail sales data will be closely watched.

Read more on MarketWatch

It is also used in military hardware, including aircraft, and there is growing demand linked to the boom in artificial intelligence and data centres.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• accomplishment 
• action 
• case 
• circumstance 
• data 
• evidence 
• experience 
• factor 
• incident 
• information 
• performance 
• phenomenon 
• statistic