Inflected forms: pl. phe·nom·e·na (-n) 1. An occurrence, circumstance, or fact that is perceptible by the senses. 2. Inflected forms: pl. phe·nom·e·nons a. An unusual, significant, or unaccountable fact or occurrence; a marvel. b. A remarkable or outstanding person; a paragon. See synonyms at wonder. 3.Philosophy In the philosophy of Kant, an object as it is perceived by the senses, as opposed to a noumenon. 4.Physics An observable event.
ETYMOLOGY:
Late Latin phaenomenon, from Greek phainomenon, from neuter present participle of phainesthai, to appear. See bh-1 in Appendix I.
USAGE NOTE:
Phenomenon is the only singular form of this noun; phenomena is the usual plural. Phenomenons may also be used as the plural in nonscientific writing when the meaning is “extraordinary things, occurrences, or persons”: They were phenomenons in the history of music.
f
-n
m
-n
, -n
-1 in Appendix I.
