Can phenomena be used as a singular?: Usage Guide
Phenomena has been in occasional use as a singular since the early 18th century, as has the plural phenomenas. Our evidence shows that singular phenomena is primarily a speech form used by poets, critics, and professors, among others, but one that sometimes turns up in edited prose.
Although it seemed like a fad a few years ago, Twitter has evolved into a phenomena with more than 200 million users …
—
Myron P. Medcalf
Myron P. Medcalf
It is etymologically no more irregular than stamina and agenda, but it has nowhere near the frequency of use that they have, and while they are standard, phenomena is still rather borderline.
Examples of phenomena in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rayner said the body’s cold water shock response is a completely different phenomena than hypothermia.
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Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2026
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters.
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Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
The most ferociously feeding supermassive black holes power phenomena called active galactic nuclei (AGNs).
—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Since 2023, a bipartisan group in Congress has held three hearings featuring whistleblowers on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), summoning whistleblowers who alleged a decades-long cover-up by the government and private industry.
—
Nathaniel Janowitz,
Wired News,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for phenomena
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Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2026
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters.
—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
The most ferociously feeding supermassive black holes power phenomena called active galactic nuclei (AGNs).
—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Since 2023, a bipartisan group in Congress has held three hearings featuring whistleblowers on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), summoning whistleblowers who alleged a decades-long cover-up by the government and private industry.
—
Nathaniel Janowitz,
Wired News,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for phenomena
Cite this Entry
“Phenomena.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phenomena. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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