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What’s the Plural of Spectrum?

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What’s the plural of “spectrum”?

The plural of spectrum is spectra or spectrums. A spectrum, which is “a range of different positions, opinions, etc. between two extreme points”, originally comes from Latin and uses the standard Latin suffixes from singular to plural. Latin nouns that end in -um as a singular switch to -a as a plural (e.g., referendum/referenda, memorandum/memoranda).

👍🏼Usage Note

I have known her for five years. (present perfect)
She knew the answer immediately. (simple past)
I have knew her for five years. (incorrect past participle)
She has know the answer. (incorrect verb form)

What’s the singular of spectrum?

Spectrum is singular of spectra or spectrums.

What does the word spectrum mean?

The word spectrum is understood as “a range of different positions, opinions, etc. between two extreme points”. For example: He has support from across the whole political spectrum. The group includes students from both ends of the social spectrum (= range of social classes).

Other Latin nouns in English

singular plural
phenomenon phenomena or phenomenons
criterion criteria
bacterion bacteria
medium media
datum data
spectrum spectra or spectrums
💡Study Tip

Practice using the verb in different tenses with example sentences to memorize the correct forms.

“Spectrum”, used in sentences

1. The survey revealed a wide spectrum of opinion.

2. He has support from across the whole political spectrum.

3. He was held in great affection by people from the entire political spectrum.

4. He is some way along the autistic spectrum.

5. My disease is nowhere near as bad as hers but they are on the same spectrum.

“Spectrums”/”spectra”, used in sentences

1. Let us look at some examples of spectra.

2. The spectra of the metals of the alkaline earths are equally definite, though more complicated.

3. It is science when the astronomer compares the spectrum of the sun with the spectra of various metals in the laboratory.

4. Commanders on the ground could call up the images they wanted, in the spectra they wanted – visible, infrared, UV, whatever. Michael Crichton. PREY. (2002).

5. Spectra flowing through the prism appeared as bright as bands of rainbow colored light.

Origin of the word spectrum

From etymology online on spectrum (n.):

1610s, “apparition, specter,” from Latin spectrum (plural spectra) “an appearance, image, apparition, specter,” from specere “to look at, view”.

Read more about nouns

Types of nouns What’s the plural of …?
plural-only nouns …moose?
mass nouns …octopus?
collective nouns …cactus?
abstract nouns vs. concrete nouns …analysis?
possessive nouns …curriculum?
regular and irregular nouns …crisis?

Sources

  1. Definition of spectrum.
  2. Sentences using spectrum.
  3. Origin of spectrum.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are literary devices?
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Techniques writers use to enhance their writing and convey messages effectively.

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Literary devices are specific to creative writing, while rhetorical devices are broader.

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Grammar Expert. "Whats The Plural Of Spectrum." GrammarFlex, May 30, 2025, http://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-plural-of-spectrum/.

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