information
A1Formal, neutral, technical (depending on context)
Definition
Meaning
Facts, knowledge, or details provided about something or someone; processed data with meaning.
A service, department, or system that provides facts or answers to queries. In information theory: a mathematical measure of the content or resolution of data.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is an uncountable (mass) noun. It cannot be pluralized as 'informations'. It can refer to both general knowledge and highly specific, technical data.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the plural 'informations' is extremely rare and limited to specific legal contexts (e.g., filing separate criminal charges). In American English, this usage is essentially non-existent; 'information' is always treated as a mass noun.
Connotations
Both dialects share identical core connotations. The British 'Information Superhighway' was a common 1990s term for the internet, while American English more commonly used 'information highway'.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
information about/on somethinginformation for someoneinformation from someone/somethinginformation that + clauseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A mine of information”
- “Too much information (TMI)”
- “For your information (FYI)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market data, customer insights, or proprietary knowledge essential for decision-making.
Academic
Denotes processed data used as evidence in research, often evaluated for credibility and relevance.
Everyday
Used for practical details like directions, opening times, or news.
Technical
In computing, it is data processed, stored, or transmitted by a system. In physics, it is a quantifiable property related to entropy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We need to inform the board immediately.
- The leaflet informs residents about the changes.
American English
- Please inform the team of the new protocol.
- The study informs our understanding of the issue.
adverb
British English
- He spoke informatively about the history of the region.
American English
- The documentary presented the facts informatively.
adjective
British English
- The informational booklet was very helpful.
- We attended an informative lecture.
American English
- The informational video is on the website.
- Her talk was highly informative.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I need information about the train times.
- The website has a lot of useful information.
- We are gathering information for our school project.
- Could you give me some information on local museums?
- The report lacked crucial information needed to make an informed decision.
- He refused to disclose confidential information about the client.
- The leak of proprietary information could compromise the entire merger deal.
- Her research synthesises information from a diverse array of primary sources.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'IN-FORM-ATION': it puts raw facts INTO a meaningful FORM.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A COMMODITY (to gather, store, trade), INFORMATION IS A LIQUID (to flow, leak, absorb), INFORMATION IS LIGHT (to shed light on, be in the dark).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Never use 'an information' or 'informations'. The Russian countable noun 'информация' is uncountable in English.
- Avoid translating 'справка' directly as 'information'; use 'reference', 'certificate', or 'enquiry' depending on context.
- Do not use 'informations' as a plural, even when referring to multiple pieces of data; say 'pieces/bits of information'.
Common Mistakes
- ~~I need some informations~~ (correct: I need some information).
- ~~It's a useful information~~ (correct: It's useful information).
- ~~These information are~~ (correct: This information is).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is grammatically correct?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'information' is an uncountable (mass) noun in modern English. You cannot say 'an information' or 'informations'. To quantify, use phrases like 'a piece of information' or 'some information'.
In everyday use, they are often synonyms. Technically, 'data' is raw, unprocessed numbers or facts, while 'information' is data that has been processed, organized, or interpreted to be meaningful and useful.
In British English, it's /ˌɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən/ (in-fuh-MAY-shun). In American English, it's /ˌɪn.fɚˈmeɪ.ʃən/ (in-fer-MAY-shun). The main difference is the vowel in the second syllable ('uh' vs. 'er').
It is extremely rare and archaic. In historical British legal terminology, an 'information' was a formal criminal charge laid by a prosecutor without a grand jury indictment. The plural might refer to multiple such charges. In contemporary and general English, never use 'informations'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Media and Communication
B1 · 50 words · Language for discussing media and communication.