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

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”

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

One of Duan's favorite classroom demonstrations helps illustrate the phenomenon.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

In France, Yuka is one facet of a wider food-tracking phenomenon.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

The stagnant condition of the labor market is so unusual that economists have even coined a phrase to describe it: “low-hire and low-fire,” a new phenomenon that emerged less than two years ago.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026

Arian Campo-Flores reports for the Journal on a wondrous and rare phenomenon occurring in the Sunshine State.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

They read about the phenomenon of simultaneous contrast of colors, about complementary colors.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

Both phenomena made Bowlero possible and, plenty might argue, inevitable.

From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026

Its leaders have tried to avoid openly escalating the conflict, framing leftist gains as local phenomena.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

An extraordinary high-energy event detected deep in space is giving astronomers a rare opportunity to study some of the Universe's most extreme phenomena.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 26, 2026

The Tonopah Historic Mining Park is a big tourist attraction, along with the Clown Motel and other lodging establishments supposedly haunted by the ghosts of dead miners and other paranormal phenomena.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026

If there was no rain at all, there were freakish, inexplicable phenomena like the epidemic of diarrhea or the bomb line that moved.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

But I don’t think that there is as serious a conversation about those sorts of layman’s interactions with these phenomenons.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 16, 2023

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

When the show debuted twelve years, social media apps like Twitter and Instagram were on the precipice of becoming the cultural phenomenons they are today.

From Fox News ● Sep. 18, 2021

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

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

Related Words

• anomaly
• aspect
• circumstance
• episode
• event
• experience
• fact
• incident
• miracle
• paradox
• reality
• sensation