noun
Data
noun
1
Facts, figures, or other information, especially when collected for analysis or used by a computer.
"The scientists spent months collecting data before drawing any conclusions."
"Make sure to back up your data before updating the software."
How to Use Data
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishInformation, especially numbers or facts, that can be recorded, measured, or processed.
Common mistake
Strictly, "data" is the plural of "datum," so traditional style guides pair it with "are" ("the data are clear"). In everyday and most modern usage, "data" is treated as a mass noun and takes "is" ("the data is clear") — both are widely accepted today.
Common pairings
collect data
data analysis
personal data
a data set
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The scientists spent months collecting _____ before drawing any conclusions.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin "data," the plural of "datum," meaning "(a thing) given." It entered English as a scientific and statistical term before becoming everyday vocabulary in the computer age.