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.
Although it seemed like a fad a few years ago, Twitter has evolved into a phenomena with more than 200 million users …
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Myron P. Medcalf
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
Recent Examples on the Web
In the scientific type, sometimes strange, unexplained phenomena comes to light.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2025
Such a discovery would fill in gaps of classifications of X-ray phenomena, potentially leading to the development of new theories and observational studies to find more like it.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Feb. 2025
To determine if this phenomena repeated itself in more dire situations, the team then analyzed video of a crowd at the 2010 Love Parade,.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
In Shinto belief, spirits—kami—are not only connected to the shrines constructed in their honor, but also linked to objects, landscapes, and other earthly phenomena.
—Kevin Chroust, Outside Online, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for phenomena 
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Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2025
Such a discovery would fill in gaps of classifications of X-ray phenomena, potentially leading to the development of new theories and observational studies to find more like it.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Feb. 2025
To determine if this phenomena repeated itself in more dire situations, the team then analyzed video of a crowd at the 2010 Love Parade,.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
In Shinto belief, spirits—kami—are not only connected to the shrines constructed in their honor, but also linked to objects, landscapes, and other earthly phenomena.
—Kevin Chroust, Outside Online, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for phenomena
Dictionary Entries Near phenomena
Cite this Entry
“Phenomena.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phenomena. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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