1. Plural of datum; individual facts, figures, or pieces of information used as a basis for reasoning or calculation.
Usage: Most common modern usage; 'data' is now often used as both singular and plural in general contexts, but 'datums' remains standard in technical and scientific writing.
2. In surveying and mapping, a fixed reference point or surface from which measurements are taken.
Usage: technical; surveying

Examples

• The researchers collected datums from hundreds of participants across the country.
• All the datums in the study were carefully recorded and analyzed.
• Surveyors use datums to establish consistent elevation measurements.
• The statistical analysis required processing thousands of datums.
• Each datum in the dataset was verified for accuracy before inclusion.