information
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /ˌɪnfəmˈeɪʃən/
US
- /ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən/
- /ɪnˈfɔrˈmeɪʃən/
Description
- Facts
- Details
- What you learn
- Useful news
Information is what you learn from facts, details, messages, or signs around you. It helps answer questions like "who," "what," "where," "when," and "why." You might look for information before making a choice, or pass information to someone who needs it. A student uses it for a report, a doctor uses it to understand a patient, and a traveler uses it to find the right road.
Think of someone lost in the woods. A map, a warning sign, or directions from another person can help them move forward. That is information at work. It is not always complete or correct, but it helps people understand what is happening and decide what to do next.
Information is what people receive, collect, share, or use in order to understand something. It can be a fact, a piece of news, a number, a message, an image, a sound, or any other sign that carries meaning. It is not just random material. It matters because it tells you something about a person, thing, event, or situation.
In daily life, information is everywhere. A weather report gives you information about tomorrow's conditions. A teacher gives information in class. A train schedule gives information about times and stops. A friend may give you information about a party, and a news story gives information about something that happened. Some of it is useful and clear, while some of it is wrong, incomplete, or misleading.
The word is often used in both everyday and formal English. We talk about sharing information, asking for information, giving information, and finding information online. In science, business, law, medicine, and technology, the idea is just as important, because people need reliable facts in order to make good decisions. Having a lot of information does not always mean having understanding, though. People still need to check it, connect it, and make sense of it.
Information can appear in many forms, including words, numbers, charts, pictures, sounds, and digital signals. It can come from books, conversations, websites, records, or direct experience. In the end, it is one of the main ways we learn about the world and guide our actions within it.
Examples
- 1
Travel planning
I need some information about the train schedule.
- 2
Application process
The website gives clear information on how to apply.
- 3
Decision making
We still don't have enough information to decide.
- 4
Forms
This form asks for your contact information.
- 5
Report detail
I found one useful piece of information in the report.
Grammar
piece of information
one fact; information is usually not plural
- 6
Research sources
The article is based on information from several sources.
- 7
Online misinformation
False information can spread very quickly online.
- 8
Police appeal
The police are asking the public for information about the missing man.
- 9
Correction
For your information, the deadline is tomorrow, not next week.
Phrase
for your information
used to tell someone something they should know
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- informationnoun
Forms
- informationspluralnoun