experiment

[ noun ik-sper-uh-muhnt; verb ek-sper-uh-ment ]

noun

1. a test, trial, or tentative procedure; an act or operation for the purpose of discovering something unknown or of testing a principle, supposition, etc.:

   a chemical experiment; a teaching experiment; an experiment in living.

2. the conducting of such operations; experimentation:

   a product that is the result of long experiment.

   Synonyms: investigation, research

3. Obsolete. experience.

verb (used without object)

1. to try or test, especially in order to discover or prove something:

   to experiment with a new procedure.

experiment

noun

1. a test or investigation, esp one planned to provide evidence for or against a hypothesis: a scientific experiment
2. the act of conducting such an investigation or test; experimentation; research
3. an attempt at something new or different; an effort to be original

   a poetic experiment

4. See experience
   an obsolete word for experience

verb

1. intr to make an experiment or experiments

experiment

/ ĭk-spĕr′ə-mənt /

1. A test or procedure carried out under controlled conditions to determine the validity of a hypothesis or make a discovery.
2. See Note at hypothesis

Derived Forms

• exˈperiˌmenter, noun

Other Words From

• ex·peri·menter ex·peri·mentor ex·peri·men·tator noun
• preex·peri·ment noun
• proex·peri·ment adjective
• reex·peri·ment verb (used without object) noun
• unex·peri·mented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of experiment¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English: “proof,” from Latin experīmentum “test, trial,” from experī(rī) “to test, try” ( experience ) + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of experiment¹

C14: from Latin experīmentum proof, trial, from experīrī to test; see experience

Synonym Study

See trial.

Example Sentences

To put it rather uncharitably, the USPHS practiced a major dental experiment on a city full of unconsenting subjects.

From The Daily Beast

If the noble experiment of American democracy is to mean anything, it is fidelity to the principle of freedom.

From The Daily Beast

A classroom experiment seeks to demonstrate what it looks like.

From The Daily Beast

This video, courtesy of BuzzFeed, tries a bit of an experiment to get some answers.

From The Daily Beast

In the fall of 1992, Booker became a vegetarian “as an experiment,” he said, “and I was surprised by how much my body took to it.”

From The Daily Beast

With Bacon, experientia does not always mean observation; and may mean either experience or experiment.

From Project Gutenberg

I made the experiment two years ago, and all my experience since has corroborated the conclusion then arrived at.

From Project Gutenberg

But this is quite enough to justify the inconsiderable expense which the experiment I urge would involve.

From Project Gutenberg

He commenced to experiment in electro-pneumatics in the year 1860, and early in 1861 communicated his discoveries to Mr. Barker.

From Project Gutenberg

Readers will doubtless be familiar with the well-known experiment illustrating this point.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• analysis
• attempt
• enterprise
• examination
• exercise
• experimentation
• measure
• observation
• operation
• practice
• probe
• procedure
• research
• search
• study
• trial
• undertaking
• venture