# data mining

CEFR C1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/data-mining
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

the process of using computers to find hidden patterns or useful information in very large amounts of facts and numbers.

For teachers: the practice of examining large pre-existing databases in order to generate new information or identify significant patterns and trends.

## Examples

- The company uses data mining to understand what customers want.
- Retailers often use data mining to analyze purchase histories and predict which products will be popular during the holiday season.
- Advanced data mining techniques allow researchers to identify subtle correlations within genomic datasets that would be impossible for a human analyst to detect manually.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.