phenomenon

phe·nom·e·non

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noun

The definition of a phenomenon is something that is observable or an extraordinary thing or person.

An example of phenomenon is a lunar eclipse.
An example of phenomenon is a classical musical great such as Beethoven.

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"phenomenon." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 06 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Phenomenon>.

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phenomenon. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Phenomenon

phenomenon

noun

pl.

any event, circumstance, or experience that is apparent to the senses and that can be scientifically described or appraised, as an eclipse
in Kantian philosophy, a thing as it appears in perception as distinguished from the thing as it is in itself independent of sense experience
any extremely unusual or extraordinary thing or occurrence
Informal a person with an extraordinary quality, aptitude, etc.; prodigy

Origin of phenomenon

Late Latin phaenomenon from Classical Greek phainomenon, neuter present participle of phainesthai, to appear, akin to phainein: see fantasy

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MLA Style

"phenomenon." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 06 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Phenomenon>.

APA Style

phenomenon. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Phenomenon

phenomenon

noun

pl. phe·nom·e·na,

An occurrence, circumstance, or fact that is perceptible by the senses.
pl. phe·nom·e·nons
a. An unusual, significant, or unaccountable fact or occurrence; a marvel.
b. A remarkable or outstanding person; a paragon. See Synonyms at wonder.
Philosophy In the philosophy of Kant, an object as it is perceived by the senses, as opposed to a noumenon.
Physics An observable event.

Origin of phenomenon

Late Latin phaenomenon from Greek phainomenon from neuter present participle of phainesthai to appear ; see bhā-¹ in Indo-European roots.

Usage Note: Phenomenon is the only acceptable singular form of this noun; phenomena is the usual plural. Phenomenons may also be used as the plural in nonscientific writing when the meaning is “extraordinary things, occurrences, or persons”: They were phenomenons in the history of music.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"phenomenon." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 06 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Phenomenon>.

APA Style

phenomenon. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Phenomenon

Noun

(plural phenomena)

An observable fact or occurrence or a kind of observable fact or occurrence.
Appearance; a perceptible aspect of something that is mutable.
A fact or event considered very unusual, curious, or astonishing by those who witness it.
A wonderful or very remarkable person or thing.
(philosophy, chiefly Kantian idealism) An experienced object whose constitution reflects the order and conceptual structure imposed upon it by the human mind (especially by the powers of perception and understanding).

Usage notes

The universal, common, modern spelling of this term is phenomenon. Of the alternative forms listed above, phaenomenon, phÃ¦nomenon, and phainomenon are etymologically consistent, retaining the Î±Î¹ diphthong from its Ancient Greek etymon Ï†Î±Î¹Î½ÏŒÎ¼ÎµÎ½Î¿Î½ (phainomenon); in the case of the first two, it is in the Romanised form of the Latin ae diphthong, whereas in the latter it is a direct transcription of the original Ancient Greek. The form spelt with Å“ has no etymological basis. All those alternative forms are pronounced identically with phenomenon and are archaic, except for phainomenon, which sees some technical use in academia and is pronounced with an initial fÄ« ([faÉª],).
By far the most common and universally accepted plural form is the classical phenomena; the Anglicised phenomenons is also sometimes used. The plural form phenomena is frequently misused in the singular. Arising from this misuse, the double plurals phenomenas and phenomenae, as well as a form employing the greengrocer's apostrophe "” phenomena's "” are seen in non-standard use; they are erroneous.

Related terms

terms related to "phenomenon"

Origin

From Late Latin phaenomenon (“appearance"), from Ancient Greek Ï†Î±Î¹Î½ÏŒÎ¼ÎµÎ½Î¿Î½ (phainomenon, “thing appearing to view"), neuter present passive participle of Ï†Î±Î¯Î½Ï‰ (phainÅ, “I show").

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"phenomenon." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 06 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Phenomenon>.

APA Style

phenomenon. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Phenomenon

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