database

noun

da·​ta·​base ˈdā-tə-ˌbās How to pronounce database (audio)
ˈda-,
 also  ˈdä-
computers
: a usually large collection of data organized especially for rapid search and retrieval (as by a computer)
an online database
database transitive verb

Examples of database in a Sentence

All of our customers' information was kept in a database.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If the car isn't listed below, owners can check USA TODAY’s automotive recall database or search NHTSA’s database for new recalls. Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024 By consolidating information into a database that can handle any type of data with speed, scale and simplicity, companies can combine AI’s analytical power with human intuition to make better, faster decisions. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024 The article investigated that a database that has powered AI-training data sets for companies like Apple, Anthropic, Meta, Nvidia, Salesforce, Bloomberg, and more had comprised over 53,000 movies and 85,000 TV episodes. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 12 Dec. 2024 His compensation from Goldman Sachs cost him $128,000 in Medicare tax one year, according to ProPublica’s IRS database. Paul Kiel, ProPublica, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for database 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of database was circa 1962

Dictionary Entries Near database

Cite this Entry

“Database.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/database. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

database

noun
da·​ta·​base ˈdāt-ə-ˌbās How to pronounce database (audio)
ˈdat-,
 also  ˈdät-
: a collection of data that is organized especially to be used by a computer
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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