datum

/ˈdeɪtəm/

//ˈdeɪtəm// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"datum" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“datum” is uncommon English (frequency #51,645 among 26,416 “D” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#51,645
frequency rank, English
26,416
“D” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - 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.

Key facts for datum
PropertyValue
Headworddatum
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈdeɪtəm/
Letters5
Frequency rank#51,645
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “datum” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). datum lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

datum is uncommon English at frequency #51,645 among 26,416 “D” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈdeɪtəm/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

datum has no tracked misspelling variants, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin datum (“a given”). Doublet of die. The correct English form is datum, spelled D-A-T-U-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    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.
  2. 2
    Singular of data: A single recorded phenomenon, especially obtained by scientific work.
  3. 3
    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).
  4. 4
    A floating reference point, or SLDMB, used to evaluate surface currents in a body of water, and often employed by coastal search and rescue.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin datum (“a given”). Doublet of die.

This word in other languages

dato(Español)donnée(Français)Fakt(Deutsch)dado(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "datum"?
"datum" is spelled D-A-T-U-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdeɪtəm/.
What does "datum" mean?
As a noun, "datum" means: 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.
How do you pronounce "datum"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "datum" is /ˈdeɪtəm/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "datum"?
Borrowed from Latin datum (“a given”). Doublet of die. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “datum”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is D-A-T-U-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈdeɪtəm/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list