fə̇ˈnäməˌnän, -_nən noun
( plural phenome·na -ˌnä, -nə ; or phenomenons ; see numbered senses )
Etymology: Late Latin phaenomenon, from Greek phainomenon, from neuter of present passive participle of phainein to show — more at fancy
1. plural phenomena : an observable fact or event : an item of experience or reality
studied capitalism, not mankind, and reduced economics to the phenomena of price — H.J.Muller
from the moment of its birth surrealism was an international phenomenon — Herbert Read
2. plural phenomena
a. : a fact or event in the changing and perceptible forms as distinguished from the permanent essences of things: as
(1) : a mutable, caused, or developing aspect of things as contrasted with their fixed and substantial natures
(2) : a perceptible aspect or appearance of things as contrasted with their true or ideal being
(3) : an object of sense perception as distinguished from an ultimate reality
(4)
[German phänomenon, phänomen, from Late Latin phaenomenon ]
Kantianism : an object of experience in space and time as distinguished from a thing-in-itself
(5) : a sense impression or sense-datum as distinguished from a thing
phenomena, not only physical things, have spatial and temporal aspects — Nelson Goodman
b. : a fact or event of scientific interest susceptible of scientific description and explanation — in common usage retaining the implication of change or mode of being especially illustrating the operation of some general law
3.
a. : a rare fact or event : a fact or event of special or unique significance
authorities explained the fiery light as an optical phenomenon — Fred Zimmer
b. plural usually phenomenons : an exceptional, unusual, or abnormal thing or occurrence
the annual is … something of a publishing phenomenon : selling for $3.95, it has a circulation of 40,000 — Harvey Breit
c. plural phenomenons : an extraordinary or remarkable person especially in ability : prodigy
a phenomenon at tennis
Synonyms: see wonder