information
Pluralinformations (some meanings)
- 1Facts and knowledge that people can learn and share about a subject.
Like a box of facts you can open up and share with a friend.
She found useful information about the trip online.
The teacher gave us new information about the test.
UsageSay some information or a piece of information (not
incorrect: an information).Similarfacts, details, data, knowledge, intelligence
- 2Facts or figures that have been sorted and made sense of, so people can use them.
The app turns raw numbers into clear information you can act on.
After sorting, the messy data became useful information.
- 3A desk or office where people can ask questions and get help, for example at a train station or for visitors.
If you get lost in the mall, meet us at information by the main doors.
The woman at information told us which platform our train leaves from.
UsageSay at information, with no "the".
Note
- 4In computing, what a message or signal carries, measured in bits, that tells you something you did not know.
Like a long row of light switches, each one either on or off.
A computer stores information as long strings of ones and zeros.
All the information on the disk breaks down into millions of bits.
Similardata
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Less common meanings
- 5The act of telling someone something or sharing news with them.
For your information, the office closes early today.
She posted the notice for the information of all staff.
UsageFor your information can sound annoyed. For the information of visitors is formal wording used on notices.
Similarnotification
- 6A phone service that gives you listed phone numbers when you ask.
She called information to find the number for the pizza place.
Just dial information if you can't find the listing.
- 7
- 8A formal statement to a judge that says someone may have broken the law.
The officer laid an information before the magistrate.
Prosecutors filed an information against the suspect.
UsageHere you can say an information: police file an information.
Note
- 9
- 10The steady teaching of knowledge, such as education or training.
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- 11The act of telling the authorities about someone's wrongdoing, or an accusation against them.
Note
- 12The giving of shape or a special quality to something, also called forming.
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Practice
Can you tell the meanings of information apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
From Latin informatio, meaning "idea" or "education," from informare ("to inform"). It came into English through French.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts
- Information ultimately derives from Latin informatio. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin informatio means 'idea'. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin informatio also means 'education'. en.wiktionary.org
- Informatio derives from informare, meaning 'to inform'. en.wiktionary.org
- The word entered English through French. en.wiktionary.org