datum

/ˈdeɪtəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdeɪtəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdā-təm ˈda- ˈdä-/ (ame, mw)

datum — noun

  • datumsingular
  • dataplural

1. One individual item that contains a fact, number, or observation, usually belong

1.名詞B2
釋義

One individual item that contains a fact, number, or observation, usually belonging to a larger collection of similar items.

例句

Before the meeting, the team examined each datum from the field study.

collocation: each datum

Karim noticed that a single datum in the results table was missing.

collocation: single datum

同義詞
  • data point

    Far more common in modern usage across all registers; often preferred in statistics and data science

  • fact

    Broader meaning; does not imply the item belongs to a collection

  • figure

    Specifically numerical; common in business and scientific reports

文法句型

a ~ from [source]

~ + about [topic]

~ + in [dataset]

用法筆記

In modern English, the plural 'data' is far more common than the singular 'datum', especially in everyday contexts. 'Datum' is mostly used in formal or technical writing when the writer wants to emphasize that only one item is being discussed.

常見錯誤

❌I found an interesting datum in the news this morning.
✅I found an interesting piece of data in the news this morning.
💡In everyday conversation, 'datum' sounds overly formal; use 'piece of data' or 'fact' instead.
❌These datum suggest a different answer.
✅These data suggest a different answer.
💡'Datum' is singular; use 'data' (or 'data points') when referring to multiple items.

2. A specific fact or measurement that people use as a foundation when they think a

2.名詞B2
釋義

A specific fact or measurement that people use as a foundation when they think about a problem, do calculations, or carry out research.

例句

Using this datum as a starting point, Hassan calculated the total cost.

pattern: using [something] as a datum

The experiment provided a useful datum for the team to build on.

同義詞
  • reference point

    Emphasizes the role of the item as something to measure or compare against

  • given

    More philosophical or logical in tone; implies the fact is assumed as true for the sake of argument

  • starting data

    Specifically refers to the initial numbers or facts used in a calculation

文法句型

~ + for [purpose]

use [something] as a ~

~ + in + [field/domain]

用法筆記

This sense overlaps with sense 1, but the emphasis is on how the fact or measurement is USED as a foundation for further reasoning, rather than simply being a piece of information. Frequently appears in academic and technical writing.

常見錯誤

❌The datum for our argument is based on old news reports.
✅The basis for our argument is old news reports.
💡Use 'basis' or 'foundation' when you mean the underlying support, not a specific fact within it.