Quick Definition
Data (noun) — facts and statistics collected together for analysis; information that is processed or stored by a computer. Example: The data shows a clear improvement over three months.
Etymology
Data is the Latin plural of datum, meaning "something given", from the verb dare ("to give"). It entered English in the 17th century in scientific and philosophical writing, where individual facts were called data — things "given" as the basis for reasoning. The singular form datum survives in technical and surveying contexts (e.g. "a datum point"), but in everyday modern English data functions as an uncountable noun and is treated as singular.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| The data shows a clear improvement over three months. | A2 | data as subject, treated as singular |
| We need to collect more data before we can draw any conclusions. | B1 | collect data — very common collocation |
| All personal data must be stored securely under UK GDPR. | B1 | personal data — legal/digital context |
| The research team analysed the data and identified several key patterns. | B2 | analyse the data — academic register |
| Without robust data to support the hypothesis, the findings remain speculative. | C1 | robust data — formal academic writing |
Common Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| collect data | Researchers collected data from over 500 participants. |
| analyse data | The software helps analysts to analyse data quickly. |
| process data | The server can process data at remarkable speed. |
| store data | Cloud services make it easy to store data securely. |
| share data | Hospitals are not permitted to share data without consent. |
| raw data | The raw data must be cleaned before analysis begins. |
| personal data | Users have the right to access their own personal data. |
| statistical data | The report includes statistical data from the past decade. |
| big data | Big data analytics has transformed how businesses make decisions. |
| data protection | Data protection laws are strictly enforced in the UK. |
Usage Notes
- Singular or plural? In British English, data is most commonly treated as an uncountable singular noun: "The data is ready." The formal plural "The data are ready" is acceptable in academic writing where your style guide requires it.
- No article needed for general reference: Say "collect data", not "collect the data" unless referring to a specific set: "Please send me the data from last week."
- Adjective order: Descriptive adjectives come before data: raw data, financial data, personal data, historical data. Avoid placing adjectives after the noun.
- Register: Data appears in everyday, academic, technical, and legal contexts. In informal speech, people sometimes say "info" or "figures" instead, but data is perfectly natural at all levels of formality.
- Related forms: The adjective is data-driven (a data-driven approach); the compound forms include database, dataset, and data centre. Note that in British English data centre is two words; American English uses data center.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
The datas show a positive trend.
The data shows a positive trend. (data has no plural form in modern English)
We don't have enough informations to decide.
We don't have enough data to decide. (data, like information, is uncountable — no -s ending)
The scientists collected many datas from the experiment.
The scientists collected a great deal of data from the experiment. (use quantity expressions such as "a great deal of", "a lot of", or "much" with uncountable nouns)
Related Words
Related Vocabulary
Practise This Word
Frequently Asked Questions about “data”
What does data mean in English?
Data refers to facts, statistics, or pieces of information collected for analysis. In computing, it means any information that a computer processes or stores. In everyday British English it is usually treated as an uncountable noun: 'The data shows a clear trend.'
Is data singular or plural in British English?
In British English, data is increasingly used as an uncountable singular noun: 'The data is ready.' Formally, data is the Latin plural of datum, so 'the data are ready' is also correct. Both are acceptable; the singular form is more common in everyday and digital contexts.
What is the difference between data and information?
Data refers to raw, unprocessed facts and figures — numbers, measurements, or observations. Information is data that has been organised, interpreted, and given meaning. For example, a list of temperatures is data; a weather forecast is information derived from that data.
How do you pronounce data?
In British English the standard pronunciation is /ˈdeɪ.tə/ (DAY-tuh). In American English /ˈdæ.tə/ (DAT-uh) is also heard. Both are widely understood internationally. The British pronunciation rhymes with 'later'.
What are common collocations with data?
Common collocations include: collect data, analyse data, process data, store data, share data, raw data, personal data, research data, statistical data, and big data. In academic writing you will also see 'interpret the data' and 'the data suggest'.
What is personal data?
Personal data is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual — for example, a name, email address, phone number, or location. Under UK GDPR, organisations must handle personal data carefully and with the individual's consent where required.
Can data be countable?
In strict formal or scientific English, data can be used as a countable plural: 'These data were collected over six months.' However, in general and digital British English it is nearly always treated as uncountable: 'This data was collected over six months.' Use the plural form in academic writing if your style guide requires it.
What is the difference between data and datum?
Datum is the Latin singular form of data, meaning a single fact or piece of information. It is rarely used in everyday English but appears in technical, scientific, and surveying contexts — for example, 'a datum point on a map'. In most everyday situations, data covers both singular and plural meanings.
What does 'big data' mean?
Big data refers to extremely large datasets that are too complex for traditional database tools to handle. Businesses and researchers use big data analytics to find patterns, trends, and associations. The term became common in the 2010s alongside the growth of cloud computing and machine learning.
How can I practise using data in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to see data used in context, or use Flash Cards to test your knowledge of data and related vocabulary such as dataset, database, and statistics. Reading science articles and technology news is an excellent way to encounter data in authentic academic and professional sentences.