phenomena

English

Alternative forms

• phænomena (archaic)
• phœnomena (archaic, erroneous)

Etymology

The plural form of phenomenon, formed according to the Ancient Greek -ον (-on) → -α (-a) pluralisation pattern.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /fɪˈnɒm.ə.nə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /fɪˈnɑm.ə.nə/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

Noun

phenomena pl

1. plural of phenomenon
   • 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter II, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

     She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, […] ; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen, the way she talked to the waiters and the maid, […] —all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher.

Usage notes

• May occasionally be used as a singular. This is generally considered an error. Compare criteria.