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Synonyms

empirically

American  
[em-pir-ik-lee] / ɛmˈpɪr ɪk li /

adverb

  1. in a way that is based on or guided by experience or experiment.

    We hope that this study will form the basis for future empirically grounded research and policy analysis.

  2. in a way that is provable or verifiable by experience or experiment.

    Can it be stated empirically that the Latino vote was the single biggest factor contributing to the candidate's victory?


Other Word Forms

  • antiempirically adverb
  • nonempirically adverb
  • overempirically adverb
  • semiempirically adverb
  • unempirically adverb

Etymology

Origin of empirically

empirical ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And they empirically tested that theory, looking at the correlation of buy-the-dip versus the SG Trend index, which is the average return of the top 10 hedge funds running trend-following strategies.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 5, 2025

You must study it empirically, accounting for confounding variables and using rigorous methodology.

From Slate • Sep. 26, 2025

What do we know empirically about the impact of authoritarianism on public health and well-being?

From Salon • Jul. 1, 2025

Michael McFaul, the former US ambassador to Russia, told Politico Vance's remarks were "insulting" and "just empirically not true".

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2025

Yet however “quaint” the universes of the archaic or classical sages might have seemed by the third century, they were far from empirically disproven.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro