Can phenomena be used as a singular?: Usage Guide
Phenomena has been in occasional use as a singular since the early 18th century, as has the plural phenomenas. Our evidence shows that singular phenomena is primarily a speech form used by poets, critics, and professors, among others, but one that sometimes turns up in edited prose.
Myron P. Medcalf
It is etymologically no more irregular than stamina and agenda, but it has nowhere near the frequency of use that they have, and while they are standard, phenomena is still rather borderline.
Examples of phenomena in a Sentence
Greg Wehner, Fox News, 17 Oct. 2024
The office was established in 2022 to investigate reports and earlier, of UFOs — or, to use the preferred official term, unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2024
Many chronic pain conditions actually involve a combination of all three of these phenomena – nociceptive, neuropathic and nociplastic pain – which adds to the difficulty of diagnosis and treatment.
—Rachael Rzasa Lynn, The Conversation, 25 July 2024
The films blend in-depth artist profiles with examinations of past and current cultural phenomena, looking at music, politics, and more.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for phenomena 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'phenomena.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near phenomena
Cite this Entry
“Phenomena.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phenomena. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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