Dictionary.com
definitions

desiderata

[ dih-sid-uh-rey-tuh, -rah-, -zid- ]
/ dɪˌsɪd əˈreɪ tə, -ˈrɑ-, -ˌzɪd- /
|

plural noun, singular de·sid·er·a·tum.

things wanted or needed; the plural of desideratum: “Happily-ever-after” and “eternal love” appear to be the desiderata of the current generation; to whom “fat chance” say those of us who are older, wiser, and more curmudgeonly.

RELATED WORDS

requirement, precondition, prerequisite, fundamental, obligation, essential, urgency, use, right, wish, commitment, demand, specification, stipulation, qualification, need, provision, condition, concern, desire

Nearby words

  1. desiccant,
  2. desiccate,
  3. desiccated,
  4. desiccation,
  5. desiccator,
  6. desiderate,
  7. desiderative,
  8. desideratum,
  9. desiderium,
  10. design

desideratum

[ dih-sid-uh-rey-tuh m, -rah-, -zid- ]
/ dɪˌsɪd əˈreɪ təm, -ˈrɑ-, -ˌzɪd- /

noun, plural de·sid·er·a·ta [dih-sid-uh-rey-tuh, -rah-, -zid-] /dɪˌsɪd əˈreɪ tə, -ˈrɑ-, -ˌzɪd-/.

something wanted or needed.

Origin of desideratum

1645–55; < Latin, noun use of neuter past participle of dēsīderāre; see desiderate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for desiderata

British Dictionary definitions for desiderata

desiderata

/ (dɪˌzɪdəˈrɑːtə) /

noun

the plural of desideratum

desideratum

/ (dɪˌzɪdəˈrɑːtəm) /

noun plural -ta (-tə)

something lacked and wanted

Word Origin for desideratum

C17: from Latin; see desiderate
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
Word Origin and History for desiderata
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper