/ fəˈnɒmɪnən; NAmE fəˈnɑːm-/ noun ( pl. phe·nom·ena / -ɪnə; NAmE /)
1.
a fact or an event in nature or society, especially one that is not fully understood :
cultural / natural / social phenomena
Globalization is a phenomenon of the 21st century.
2.
( pl. phe·nom·enons in AmE ) a person or thing that is very successful or impressive
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek phainomenon thing appearing to view, based on phainein to show.