Definition for the word phenomenon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The combustion of a match is an observable occurrence, or event, and therefore a phenomenon.

A phenomenon (PL: phenomena), sometimes spelled phaenomenon, is an observable event.^[1] The term came into its modern philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant, who contrasted it with the noumenon, which cannot be directly observed. Kant was heavily influenced by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in this part of his philosophy, in which phenomenon and noumenon serve as interrelated technical terms. Far predating this, the ancient Greek Pyrrhonist philosopher Sextus Empiricus also used phenomenon and noumenon as interrelated technical terms.

Common usage[edit]

In popular usage, a phenomenon often refers to an extraordinary event. The term is most commonly used to refer to occurrences that at first defy explanation or baffle the observer. According to the Dictionary of Visual Discourse:^[2]

In ordinary language ‘phenomenon/phenomena’ refer to any occurrence worthy of note and investigation, typically an untoward or unusual event, person or fact that is of special significance or otherwise notable.

Philosophy[edit]

In modern philosophical use, the term phenomena means things as they are experienced through the senses and processed by the mind as distinct from things in and of themselves (noumena). In his inaugural dissertation, titled On the Form and Principles of the Sensible and Intelligible World, Immanuel Kant (1770) theorizes that the human mind is restricted to the logical world and thus can only interpret and understand occurrences according to their physical appearances. He wrote that humans could infer only as much as their senses allowed, but not experience the actual object itself.^[3] This may make sense in terms of a communications-channel (epistemology) feeding from an ensemble of inputs (ontology) yet not in the sense of applying wise imagination (à la Albert Einstein, to partial success).^{[citation needed]} Thus, the term phenomenon refers to any incident deserving of inquiry and investigation, especially processes and events which are particularly unusual or of distinctive importance.^[2]

Science[edit]

A comparison between a candle flame on Earth (left) and in a microgravity environment, such as that found on the International Space Station (right).
The same burning phenomenon is observed, but different flame shape and colouring phenomena are also observed.

In scientific usage, a phenomenon is any event that is observable, including the use of instrumentation to observe, record, or compile data. Especially in physics, the study of a phenomenon may be described as measurements related to matter, energy, or time, such as Isaac Newton’s observations of the moon’s orbit and of gravity; or Galileo Galilei’s observations of the motion of a pendulum.^[4]

In natural sciences, a phenomenon is an observable happening or event. Often, this term is used without considering the causes of a particular event. Example of a physical phenomenon is an observable phenomenon of the lunar orbit or the phenomenon of oscillations of a pendulum.^[4]

A mechanical phenomenon is a physical phenomenon associated with the equilibrium or motion of objects.^[5] Some examples are Newton’s cradle, engines, and double pendulums.

Sociology[edit]

Group phenomena concern the behavior of a particular group of individual entities, usually organisms and most especially people. The behavior of individuals often changes in a group setting in various ways, and a group may have its own behaviors not possible for an individual because of the herd mentality.

Social phenomena apply especially to organisms and people in that subjective states are implicit in the term. Attitudes and events particular to a group may have effects beyond the group, and either be adapted by the larger society, or seen as aberrant, being punished or shunned.

References[edit]

^ «Phenomenon». The Columbia Encyclopedia. 2008.
^ ^a ^b «Phenomenon/Phenomena». Dictionary of Visual Discourse: A Dialectical Lexicon of Terms. 2011.
^ Kant, Immanuel. [1770] 2019. On the Form and Principles of the Sensible and Intelligible World, translated by W. J. Eckoff (1894). – via Wikisource.
^ ^a ^b Bernstein, Jeremy (1996). A Theory for Everything. New York: Copernicus.
^ «Mechanical Phenomenon». AudioEnglish.org. Tudorancea Media Network. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.

External links[edit]

Источник

plural phenomena

: an observable fact or event

plural phenomena

: an object or aspect known through the senses rather than by thought or intuition

: a fact or event of scientific interest susceptible to scientific description and explanation

: a rare or significant fact or event

plural phenomenons

: an exceptional, unusual, or abnormal person, thing, or occurrence

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 …

—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.

Synonyms

Example Sentences

For example, we talk more loudly in cars, because of a phenomenon known as the Lombard effect—the speaker involuntarily raises his voice to compensate for background noise.

—John Seabrook, New Yorker, 23 June 2008

This follow-the-winemaker phenomenon is a unique wrinkle in our wine culture.

—James Laube, Wine Spectator, 15 May 2008

Contrary to the notion that war is a continuation of policy by other means … , both Keegan and Mueller find that war is a cultural product rather than a phenomenon or law of nature and therefore subject, like other modes of human expression (the wearing of togas or powdered wigs, the keeping of slaves, the art of cave painting), to the falling out of fashion.

—Lewis H. Lapham, Harper’s, September 2007

The days and nights of the Irish pub, smoky and dark and intimate, are giving way to another phenomenon: the superpub. These are immense places, loud with music; part honkytonk, part dance hall, some servicing as many as a thousand drinkers on several floors.

—Pete Hamill, Gourmet, April 2007

They were ephemera and phenomena on the face of a contemporary scene. That is, there was really no place for them in the culture, in the economy, yet they were there, at that time, and everyone knew that they wouldn’t last very long, which they didn’t.

—William Faulkner, letter, 7 Mar. 1957

natural phenomena like lightning and earthquakes

the greatest literary phenomenon of the decade

The movie eventually became a cultural phenomenon.

Recent Examples on the Web

The 90-year-old firm’s expansion beyond Boston is a relatively recent phenomenon.

—Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Apr. 2023

Florida’s frantic development trend obviously isn’t a new phenomenon.

—Jamie Kitman, Car and Driver, 1 Apr. 2023

But Arda Akartuna, a threat analyst at Elliptic, says paying dirty cryptocurrency into a hashing service to mine clean crypto is a particularly troubling phenomenon.

—WIRED, 28 Mar. 2023

Credit bureaus are a relatively recent phenomenon, dating back only to the mid-1800s.

—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2023

Stealing watches is unfortunately not a new phenomenon.

—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2023

But showing the sessions to a general audience is a relatively new phenomenon, and anathema to old-school psychotherapists for whom patient privacy is sacrosanct.

—Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2023

And clearly this is not just a phenomenon in America.

—CBS News, 26 Mar. 2023

Although consumers are accustomed to tipping waiters, bartenders and other service workers, tipping a barista or cashier may be a new phenomenon for many shoppers.

—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 25 Mar. 2023

See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘phenomenon.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin phaenomenon, from Greek phainomenon, from neuter of phainomenos, present participle of phainesthai to appear, middle voice of phainein to show — more at fancy

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of phenomenon was
in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near phenomenon

Cite this Entry

“Phenomenon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phenomenon. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.

VIDEO FOR PHENOMENON

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Malapropisms are slip-ups we all make … sometimes you read one word and you just say another. This woman laughs at her unfortunate slip-up in the workplace. We relate!

Origin of phenomenon

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin phaenomenon, from Greek phainómenon “appearance,” noun use of neuter of phainómenos, present participle of phaínesthai “to appear, become visible,” passive of phaínein “to show, bring to light, make known”

Words nearby phenomenon

phenomenal, phenomenalism, phenomenalize, phenomenological, phenomenology, phenomenon, phenoplast, phenosafranine, phenothiazine, phenotype, phenoxide

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT PHENOMENON

What does phenomenon mean?

Phenomenon most generally refers to an observable occurrence or circumstance. For example, a hurricane is a kind of weather phenomenon.

Phenomenon is also commonly used to refer to an extraordinary event or something that becomes the subject of widespread interest and attention, as in The movie has become a worldwide phenomenon.

Sometimes, phenomenon refers to a person with an extraordinary talent or ability, especially a relatively young person who is considered a prodigy. The word phenom (a shortened form of phenomenon) is commonly used to mean the same thing, as in She became an internationally known chess phenom when she was just 14 years old.

The plural of phenomenon is phenomena.

The adjective phenomenal is most commonly used to mean highly extraordinary or exceptional, as in It was a phenomenal display of skill. It can also be used more generally to mean relating to phenomena in some way, as in My philosophy paper deals with the phenomenal qualities of existence.

Example: Halley’s comet is a phenomenon that occurs every 76 years.

Where does phenomenon come from?

The first records of the word phenomenon come from the 1580s. It comes from the Greek phainómenon, from the verb phaínesthai, meaning “to appear, become visible,” from phaínein, “to show, bring to light, make known.”

Most senses of phenomenon deal with things that are visible or observable or that have become well-known. In science, the word phenomenon is typically used to refer to anything that occurs naturally and can be observed, such as a weather phenomenon or a cosmic phenomenon. In philosophy, it’s used more broadly to refer to an object of perception or experience. In a more popular sense, it refers to something that has become a spectacle or the source of a lot of attention, or to someone who is famed for their exceptional talent.

Did you know … ?

How is phenomenon used in real life?

Phenomenon is a somewhat formal word, but it can be used in all kinds of contexts, including serious scientific ones and ones involving pop culture.

This rare phenomenon (#Baikal #Zen) happens when rocks lying on the surface of frozen lakes are heated by sunlight and emit infrared rays, melting ice below. When the sun sets, the ice refreezes, creating these incredible frozen near-impossible structures. #weather #beautiful pic.twitter.com/7wfG5Ba5DL

— Paul Beckwith (@PaulHBeckwith) November 26, 2020

Wow! A rare weather phenomenon!! Anticrepuscular rays seen opposite the sunrise this morning! https://t.co/M85FNH0XrI

— Grant Johnston (@GrantJNBC5) January 25, 2021

The inside track on how Salah has become a phenomenon at #LFC https://t.co/mB6U3N2ZvY

— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) November 30, 2017

Try using phenomenon!

True or False?

Lightning is a kind of weather phenomenon.

Words related to phenomenon

anomaly, aspect, circumstance, episode, event, experience, fact, incident, miracle, paradox, reality, sensation, abnormality, actuality, appearance, curiosity, exception, happening, marvel, nonpareil

How to use phenomenon in a sentence

The latter phenomenon was made famous in Miracle on the Hudson, the film starring Tom Hanks that recounted pilot Chesley Sullenberger’s emergency landing on the Hudson River.
The patterns that Lendner, Voytek and others look for are related to a phenomenon that scientists started noticing in complex systems throughout the natural world and technology in 1925.
I’d anticipate there will be some slowing for Peloton and other brands when vaccines make returning to gyms a more widescale phenomenon.
In a year with few true cultural phenomena, the 1990s Bulls docuseries The Last Dance stands out as a series that really ought to be rewarded.

An oddity in some theorist’s equation points to a previously unknown phenomenon, which kicks off a search for evidence.
Putin, because of his acts in Ukraine, he lost Russkiy Mir as a phenomenon.
But the phenomenon of counterfeiting is as old as couture itself.
Within a few summer weeks, “Hot N—” had become an inescapable pop-culture phenomenon and Bobby landed a major record deal.
That phenomenon is not limited to peaceniks with spiritual aspirations.
This is a well-documented phenomenon which does not worry specialists.
In a warlike age this peacefulness of a monarch was the great and supernatural phenomenon.
This indeed does happen constantly on a small scale in the familiar phenomenon of over-production.
When applied to the diagnosis of typhoid fever, the phenomenon is known as the Widal reaction.
This curious phenomenon was also witnessed by the French in Geographe Bay.
In all savage races it has been recognised and dreaded, this phenomenon styled ‘Wehr Wolf,’ but to-day it is rare.

British Dictionary definitions for phenomenon

noun plural -ena (-ɪnə) or -enons

anything that can be perceived as an occurrence or fact by the senses

any remarkable occurrence or person

philosophy

the object of perception, experience, etc
(in the writings of Kant) a thing as it appears and is interpreted in perception and reflection, as distinguished from its real nature as a thing-in-itselfCompare noumenon

Word Origin for phenomenon

C16: via Late Latin from Greek phainomenon, from phainesthai to appear, from phainein to show

usage for phenomenon

Although phenomena is often treated as if it were singular, correct usage is to employ phenomenon with a singular construction and phenomena with a plural: that is an interesting phenomenon (not phenomena); several new phenomena were recorded in his notes

Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Источник

Other forms: phenomena; phenomenons

A phenomenon is an extraordinary occurrence or circumstance. In the 1950s, rock-n-roll was considered a new cultural phenomenon, while today we think of crop circles as a mysterious phenomenon.

Like many words with Greek roots, phenomenon started out as a science term. Scientists used it (and still do) to describe any event or fact that could be observed, amazing or not. An earthquake, for example, was a phenomenon, because you could see it (and hear it and feel it). Phenomenon is an example of a word having a specific meaning for one group of people that gets changed when used by the general public.

Definitions of phenomenon

noun

any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning

see moresee less

types:

show 38 types…

hide 38 types…

natural phenomenon

all phenomena that are not artificial

levitation

the phenomenon of a person or thing rising into the air by apparently supernatural means

metempsychosis, rebirth

after death the soul begins a new cycle of existence in another human body

consequence, effect, event, issue, outcome, result, upshot

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

chance, fortune, hazard, luck

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

fortune, luck

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that leads to a favorable outcome

pulsation

a periodically recurring phenomenon that alternately increases and decreases some quantity

materialisation, materialization, offspring

something that comes into existence as a result

chemical phenomenon

any natural phenomenon involving chemistry (as changes to atoms or molecules)

aftereffect

any result that follows its cause after an interval

aftermath, backwash, wake

the consequences of an event (especially a catastrophic event)

bandwagon effect

the phenomenon of a popular trend attracting even greater popularity

brisance

the shattering or crushing effect of a sudden release of energy as in an explosion

butterfly effect

the phenomenon whereby a small change at one place in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere, e.g., a butterfly flapping its wings in Rio de Janeiro might change the weather in Chicago

by-product, byproduct

a secondary and sometimes unexpected consequence

change

the result of alteration or modification

coattails effect

(politics) the consequence of one popular candidate in an election drawing votes for other members of the same political party

Coriolis effect

(physics) an effect whereby a body moving in a rotating frame of reference experiences the Coriolis force acting perpendicular to the direction of motion and to the axis of rotation; on Earth the Coriolis effect deflects moving bodies to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere

dent

an appreciable consequence (especially a lessening)

domino effect

the consequence of one event setting off a chain of similar events (like a falling domino causing a whole row of upended dominos to fall)

harvest

the consequence of an effort or activity

impact, wallop

a forceful consequence; a strong effect

influence

the effect of one thing (or person) on another

knock-on effect

a secondary or incidental effect

branch, offset, offshoot, outgrowth

a natural consequence of development

product

a consequence of someone’s efforts or of a particular set of circumstances

placebo effect

any effect that seems to be a consequence of administering a placebo; the change is usually beneficial and is assumed result from the person’s faith in the treatment or preconceptions about what the experimental drug was supposed to do; pharmacologists were the first to talk about placebo effects but now the idea has been generalized to many situations having nothing to do with drugs

position effect

(genetics) the effect on the expression of a gene that is produced by changing its location in a chromosome

repercussion, reverberation

a remote or indirect consequence of some action

response

a result

fallout, side effect

any adverse and unwanted secondary effect

geological phenomenon

a natural phenomenon involving the structure or composition of the earth

organic phenomenon

(biology) a natural phenomenon involving living plants and animals

physical phenomenon

a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy

bad luck, mischance, mishap

an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate

fluke, good fortune, good luck

a stroke of luck

spillover

(economics) any indirect effect of public expenditure

even chance, toss-up, tossup

an unpredictable phenomenon

type of:

physical process, process

a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states
noun

a remarkable person, thing, or development

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘phenomenon’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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Источник

phenomenon

[fıʹnɒmınən] (pl -mena)

1. 1) явление, феномен (

филос.)

the phenomenon of nature — явление природы

common phenomenon — обычное явление

atmospheric phenomenon — атмосферное явление

the phenomenon of pain — болевой симптом

объект чувственного восприятия

необыкновенное явление, феномен; чудо

infant phenomenon — чудо-ребёнок, вундеркинд

Новый большой англо-русский словарь.
2001.

Смотреть что такое «phenomenon» в других словарях:

Phenomenon — Студийный альбом Thousand Foot Krutch … Википедия
Phenomenon — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Phenomenon puede referirse a: Phenomenon, álbum de Tony Ferrino, personaje del humorista británico Steve Coogan. Phenomenon, álbum de la banda británica UFO. Obtenido de Phenomenon Categoría: Wikipedia:Desambiguación … Wikipedia Español
Phenomenon — Album par UFO Sortie Mai 1974 Enregistrement 1974 Morgan Studios, Londres Durée 39 min 25 s Genre Hard rock … Wikipédia en Français
Phenomenon — Studioalbum von UFO Veröffentlichung Mai 1974 Label Chrysalis Records … Deutsch Wikipedia
Phenomenon — Phenomenon, álbum lanzado en enero de 1997 por el artista Tony Ferrino, personaje creado por el comediante inglés Steve Coogan. Phenomenon salió al mercado a través de RCA. Phenomenon está integrado por 13 canciones y en él participa la cantante… … Enciclopedia Universal
Phenomenon — Phe*nom e*non, n.; pl. {Phenomena}. [L. phaenomenon, Gr. faino menon, fr. fai nesqai to appear, fai nein to show. See {Phantom}.] 1. An appearance; anything visible; whatever, in matter or spirit, is apparent to, or is apprehended by,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
phenomenon — ► NOUN (pl. phenomena) 1) a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause is in question. 2) Philosophy the object of a person s perception. 3) a remarkable person or thing. USAGE The word phenomenon comes from … English terms dictionary
phenomenon — [fə näm′ə nən, fə näm′ənän΄] n. pl. phenomena; also, esp. for PHENOMENON 3 and usually for 4, phenomenons [fə näm′ənə] [LL phaenomenon < Gr phainomenon, neut. prp. of phainesthai, to appear, akin to phainein: see FANTASY] 1. any event,… … English World dictionary
phenomenon — I (manifestation) noun apparition, appearance, display, feature, figure, form, image, materialization, presence, realization, shape, show, sight, sign, spectacle, vision II (unusual occurrence) noun amazement, amazing thing, astonishing thing,… … Law dictionary
phenomenon — (n.) 1570s, fact, occurrence, from L.L. phænomenon, from Gk. phainomenon that which appears or is seen, noun use of neuter prp. of phainesthai to appear, passive of phainein (see PHANTASM (Cf. phantasm)). Meaning extraordinary occurrence first… … Etymology dictionary
phenomenon — *wonder, marvel, prodigy, miracle Analogous words: abnormality (see corresponding adjective at ABNORMAL): anomaly, *paradox: singularity, peculiarity, uniqueness (see corresponding adjectives at STRANGE) … New Dictionary of Synonyms

Источник

Common usage[edit]

Philosophy[edit]

Science[edit]

Sociology[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near phenomenon

Cite this Entry

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More from Merriam-Webster on phenomenon

VIDEO FOR PHENOMENON

Don’t Laugh At This Similar Sounding Slip-up

Origin of phenomenon

Words nearby phenomenon

MORE ABOUT PHENOMENON

What does phenomenon mean?

Where does phenomenon come from?

Did you know … ?

How is phenomenon used in real life?

Try using phenomenon!

Words related to phenomenon

How to use phenomenon in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for phenomenon

Word Origin for phenomenon

usage for phenomenon

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