data bank
Less commonFormal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
A large collection of organized data stored in a computer system, used for analysis and retrieval.
A comprehensive repository of information, sometimes extending to a conceptual resource for expertise (e.g., 'he is a walking data bank of film trivia').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is largely synonymous with 'database' but can imply a larger, more centralised, or older system. It is less common in contemporary IT discourse than 'database' or 'data warehouse'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Database' is the dominant term in both varieties. 'Data bank' can sound slightly dated or more institutional.
Connotations
Implies a formal, centralised, and potentially large-scale storage system. It may carry a slightly more academic or public sector connotation than the neutral 'database'.
Frequency
Used infrequently in both regions, being largely supplanted by 'database' in everyday and technical language.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The researchers accessed the [data bank].Information was stored in a central [data bank].The project requires a dedicated [data bank].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[He/She] is a walking data bank.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The finance department consolidated all client records into a single corporate data bank.
Academic
The anthropologist contributed her fieldwork notes to the university's ethnographic data bank.
Everyday
My phone's photo library is becoming my personal visual data bank.
Technical
The new algorithm can query the genomic data bank thousands of times per second.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The records were carefully data-banked for future reference.
American English
- The system is designed to data-bank terabytes of sensor information.
adjective
British English
- The data-bank management system requires an upgrade.
American English
- They developed a new data-bank security protocol.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The library has a computer data bank.
- Doctors can check a patient's history in the medical data bank.
- The national crime data bank is instrumental for coordinating investigations across regions.
- Critics raised ethical concerns about the government's proposal to establish a centralised biometric data bank.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BANK building, but instead of money, its vaults are filled with DATA files on shelves.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE STORED IN A SECURE CONTAINER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation 'банк данных' is correct but less common than 'база данных' (database).
- May be confused with 'bank' as a financial institution unless context is clear.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'data bank' in casual contexts where 'database' or simply 'file' is more natural.
- Treating it as a verb (e.g., 'I will data bank it').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'data bank' LEAST likely to be used today?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are largely synonymous, but 'database' is the far more common modern term. 'Data bank' can imply a larger, older, or more institutional system.
The verb form 'to data-bank' (hyphenated) exists but is very rare and technical. It is better to use phrases like 'to store in a database'.
In modern usage, 'data' is often treated as a singular mass noun, especially in IT. Therefore, 'The data bank is secure' is acceptable, though some traditionalists may prefer 'are'.
A 'bank' metaphor emphasises storage, security, and retrieval of a valued resource. A 'base' metaphor emphasises a foundational structure from which operations are launched. This subtle difference is mostly historical now.