phenomenon
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
something that exists or happens, especially something that scientists study.
an observable fact or event, particularly one whose cause or explanation is under investigation.
Simple“Glaciers melting is a natural phenomenon caused by rising temperatures.”
In context“The researchers spent a decade documenting the phenomenon of bioluminescence in deep-sea organisms that had never been studied before.”
UsageThe plural form is 'phenomena'.
PitfallThese phenomenons are very rare. These phenomena are very rare.The standard plural of phenomenon is phenomena.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
someone or something that is very impressive or unusual.
a person or thing that is remarkably talented, successful, or extraordinary.
Simple“The young pianist was a musical phenomenon who played like a professional.”
In context“The rapid growth of the tech startup was a business phenomenon that defied all market predictions for that quarter.”
Teacher's tipIn this sense, the word is often used to describe child prodigies or sudden cultural trends.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
the way something appears to our senses, rather than how it is in reality.
an object of perception as opposed to a 'noumenon' or thing-in-itself.
Simple“He studied the phenomenon of time as we experience it every day.”
In context“Kant distinguished between the phenomenon, which is the world as we perceive it, and the noumenon, which exists independently of our senses.”
SynonymsAntonymsnoumenon
Usage phenomenon known · complex phenomenon · describe phenomenon
“Between 18:20 and 20:10 BST, the Moon caused a near-total eclipse of the Sun, giving people across the UK their best chance to witness the phenomenon since 1999.”
“Parts of Spain and Portugal witnessed the phenomenon of a total eclipse, but in Scotland the eclipse shadow meant that up to 95% of the sun was obscured by the Moon.”
From Late Latin phaenomenon (“appearance”), from Ancient Greek φαινόμενον (phainómenon, “thing appearing to view”), neuter present middle participle of φαίνω (phaínō, “I show”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.