What does information mean?
Information is the collection of facts, details, or messages that communicate something about a person, place, event, or subject. It is commonly used in everyday contexts for knowledge conveyed by a speaker, document, or source, as in asking for more information about a product. In technology and information science, the word also refers to data that have been captured, stored, or processed by a system. The term is generally uncountable in standard English, so writers normally use phrases such as “a piece of information” rather than “an information.” Information differs from data in emphasis: data are raw elements, while information is meaningful when understood in context. It also differs from knowledge, which implies understanding rather than merely received facts. The word is valuable because it describes the substance exchanged in communication, research, education, commerce, and digital systems.
nounFacts, details, or knowledge about someone or something. In modern contexts, it also means data, messages, or records conveyed or stored by a system.
- Facts, details, or knowledge communicated about a person, place, event, or subject.
- Data, messages, or records received, stored, or processed by a system.
- The act or process of informing someone, especially the supplying of official or relevant details.
"The museum provides information about the history of the building."
"Researchers gathered information from hundreds of participants before reaching a conclusion."
"The search engine collects information from many websites to answer users' queries."
Information is typically an uncountable mass noun: we speak of gaining information, but not of getting “an information.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does information come from?
The word comes through French from Latin informatio, a noun meaning “an informing” or “instruction.” Latin informare meant “to inform” or “to instruct,” formed from in- and forma, “shape” or “form.” The English word developed in the late Middle English period and originally referred to instruction or notification. Its modern sense expanded with the development of bureaucratic, scientific, and technological communication.
Related word forms
How information is actually used
In ordinary English, information is normally uncountable, although phrases such as “a piece of information” and “an information source” are common. “Informations” is not a standard plural. In computing and information science, the countable sense “an information” is occasionally used, especially in technical writing.
Easily confused with information
Data are individual pieces of raw information, while information is what those data mean or communicate when understood in context.
Information is conveyed facts or details, whereas knowledge is the understanding gained by assimilating and applying information.