Added 9 October 2026
datum
/ˈdeɪtəm/ noun
Latin root: datum Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about datum at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Something known or assumed as fact, and is made the basis of reasoning or inference which an intellectual system of any sort (such as knowledge or theoretical framework) is constructed.
a datum of experience
- Singular of data: A single recorded phenomenon, especially obtained by scientific work.
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A point, line, plane, or surface with reference to which positions (such as elevations) are measured or indicated. (Examples include a permanent benchmark in leveling or mean sea level in a topographical survey).
A geodetic datum is sometimes also called a benchmark.
verb
Origin
Learned borrowing from Latin datum, a nominalization of datus, perfect passive participle of dō, from Proto-Italic *didō, from Proto-Indo-European *dédeh₃ti, reduplication of *deh₃-, or from *-ti. Doublet of die.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)