big data: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High (Professional/Technical contexts)Technical, business, academic; increasingly common in general media.
Quick answer
What does “big data” mean?
A term for extremely large and complex datasets that require specialized computational tools to process and analyze for patterns, trends, and insights.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A term for extremely large and complex datasets that require specialized computational tools to process and analyze for patterns, trends, and insights.
The field, technologies, and methodologies used to process, manage, and derive value from massive, diverse, and rapidly generated data collections.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Slight variations in collocational preferences (e.g., 'government' vs. 'federal' initiatives).
Connotations
Equally prominent in business and tech discourse in both regions. Slightly more associated with government and public sector initiatives in UK media (e.g., NHS data).
Frequency
Equally high frequency in relevant professional domains. Slightly earlier and more sustained popularization in American tech media.
Grammar
How to Use “big data” in a Sentence
V + big data (e.g., process, harness)Adj + big data (e.g., actionable, complex)N + of + big data (e.g., volume, analysis)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “big data” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team will big-data the customer feedback to improve services.
- They are big-dataing transport patterns.
American English
- The company plans to big-data the supply chain for efficiencies.
- We need to big-data our marketing approach.
adverb
British English
- The system processes information big-data style.
- They think big-data, not small-sample.
American English
- We operate big-data, using real-time analytics.
- They approached the problem big-data.
adjective
British English
- She works in a big-data role.
- They attended a big-data conference in London.
American English
- He's a big-data scientist.
- The firm invested in big-data infrastructure.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to using data analytics to drive decisions, understand customers, and optimize operations.
Academic
Used in computer science, statistics, and social sciences to discuss methodologies for analyzing vast digital datasets.
Everyday
Often mentioned in news about privacy, technology, or how companies like Google and Amazon operate.
Technical
Specifically denotes datasets that exceed the processing capacity of traditional database systems, involving tools like Hadoop or Spark.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “big data”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “big data”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “big data”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'three big datas').
- Confusing it with any large Excel file.
- Using it without the necessary implication of specialized tools or complexity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. When referring to the field or concept ('Big data is changing the world'), use singular. When referring to multiple large datasets ('The big data from these studies are compelling'), plural is acceptable but less common.
'Data analytics' is the broad practice of analyzing data. 'Big data' refers specifically to datasets so large and complex that they require specialized tools, and it also names the field that deals with such data.
Yes, if the volume, velocity, or variety of the data they generate or process exceeds the capabilities of traditional tools, it qualifies as big data, regardless of company size.
While it is a widely used term, it refers to a real technological shift in data storage, processing, and analysis. Its overuse in marketing can make it seem like a buzzword, but it has substantive meaning in technical fields.
A term for extremely large and complex datasets that require specialized computational tools to process and analyze for patterns, trends, and insights.
Big data is usually technical, business, academic; increasingly common in general media. in register.
Big data: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈdeɪtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈdædə/ or /ˈdeɪdə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “drowning in big data”
- “big data is the new oil”
- “to mine big data for gold”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'big data' as a huge library (big) where the books are all numbers and facts (data), and you need a super-powered computer to find the story they tell.
Conceptual Metaphor
BIG DATA IS A NATURAL RESOURCE (to be mined, refined, and valuable); BIG DATA IS AN OCEAN (to navigate, drown in, or extract from).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic often associated with 'big data'?