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

Shares of private-equity firms rose slightly but remained under pressure as executives warned that higher interest rates may perpetuate a phenomenon of “zombie funds.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

Friedman emphasizes that some critics are concerned that a so-called BookTok phenomenon pushes literature toward consumerism and waters down literary quality.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

But the blazes this year have been particularly bad in part because of the El Nino climate phenomenon expected to be the strongest since comparable records began four decades ago.

From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026

On the latest episode of ICYMI, host Kate Lindsay introduces listeners to the phenomenon of vertical microdramas, which are 90-second snippets of content chock-full of some of the most absurd plotlines you’ve ever seen.

From Slate ● Sep. 16, 2026

Or, as John Quincy Adams described the seamless character of the partnership, “it was a phenomenon, like the invisible and mysterious movements of the magnet in the physical world.”

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

"Monotile patterns provide a platform for exploring optical phenomena that emerge from the interplay of symmetry, chirality, and aperiodicity."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026

The same phenomena that we saw in the global financial crisis “are all in place now, again.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

We see them as physical phenomena, but they still draw our sight up in wonder.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

Had I accidentally discovered a supernatural portal where time and space didn’t exist, one where random phenomena of blinding beauty could materialize on this plane without any logical explanation?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

The public came to imagine that physics held the key to all phenomena of the natural world, including the chemical and the biological.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

And now they are poised to begin that most rare of modern phenomenons - a multi-week tour that includes a proper Test series.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

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

To be sure, phenomenons are harder to come by these days, as content overload and paywalls slice the audience into thinner portions; all you needed to watch the original version was a television.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 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