/fi nom"euh non', -neuhn/ , n. , pl. phenomena /-neuh/ or, esp. for 3, phenomenons .
1. a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable: to study the phenomena of nature.
2. something that is impressive or extraordinary.
3. a remarkable or exceptional person; prodigy; wonder.
4. Philos.
a. an appearance or immediate object of awareness in experience.
b. Kantianism. a thing as it appears to and is constructed by the mind, as distinguished from a noumenon, or thing-in-itself.
[ 1595-1605; phaenomenon phainómenon appearance, n. use of neut. of phainómenos, prp. of phaínesthai to appear, pass. of phaínein to show ]
Syn. 1. event, incident. 2, 3 . marvel, miracle.
Usage . As with other plurals of Latin or Greek origin, like media and criteria, there is a tendency to use the plural PHENOMENA as a singular ( This phenomena will not be seen again ), but such use occurs infrequently in edited writing. The plural form PHENOMENAS, though occasionally seen, has even less currency.