datum

noun

da·​tum ˈdā-təm  ˈda- 

ˈdä-

1

plural data ˈdā-tə  ˈda- 

also

ˈdä-  : something given or admitted especially as a basis for reasoning or inference

an important historical datum

This enormous expense—and considerable risk—to pick up a datum or two about geriatrics?

—Charles Krauthammer

2

plural datums, mathematics : something used as a basis for calculating or measuring

measuring the distance between datum points

… make things more efficient for those of us whose work requires a time datum.

—Robert Steinbrunn

Is data singular or plural?: Usage Guide

Data leads a life of its own quite independent of datum, of which it was originally the plural. It occurs in two constructions: as a plural noun (like earnings), taking a plural verb and plural modifiers (such as these, many, a few) but not cardinal numbers, and serving as a referent for plural pronouns (such as they, them); and as an abstract mass noun (like information), taking a singular verb and singular modifiers (such as this, much, little), and being referred to by a singular pronoun (it). Both constructions are standard. The plural construction is more common in print, evidently because the house style of several publishers mandates it.

Synonyms

• detail
• fact
• nicety
• particular
• particularity
• point
• specific

Examples of datum in a Sentence

let's begin our discussion of this matter with a datum from actual experience

Recent Examples on the Web

Although ransomware actors do steal data as an extortion leverage tool, the threat to passwords from massive and dedicated ongoing infostealer campaigns cannot be ignored. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025

This article was generated by the Bay Area Home Report Bot, software that analyzes home sales or other data and creates an article based on a template created by humans. —Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2025

While a spate of recent aviation disasters have had flyers concerned, experts say air travel is still the safest form of transportation. More than 1.4 billion people traveled internationally in 2024, and data also shows there were fewer airline incidents in January than any other January on record. —Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025

New housing data released this week also showed that pending home sales in the U.S. slid to an all-time low last month, with home prices increasing for a 19th consecutive month and mortgage rates continuing to hover around 7 percent. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from neuter of datus

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing datum

• sense-datum

Rhymes for datum

• atom
• stratum
• erratum
• striatum
• substratum
• heteroatom
• petrolatum

Kids Definition

datum

noun

da·​tum ˈdāt-əm  ˈdat- 

ˈdät-

plural data -ə  or datums

: something used as a basis for reasoning or arriving at a conclusion or for calculating or measuring