anecdotal

American  

[an-ik-doht-l] / ˌæn ɪkˈdoʊt l /

adjective

1. pertaining to, resembling, or containing anecdotes.

   an anecdotal history of jazz.

2. Fine Arts. (of the treatment of subject matter in representational art) pertaining to the relationship of figures or to the arrangement of elements in a scene so as to emphasize the story content of a subject.

3. based on personal observation, case study reports, or random investigations rather than systematic scientific evaluation.

   anecdotal evidence.

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anecdotal British  

/ ˌænɛkˈdəʊtəl /

adjective

1. containing or consisting exclusively of anecdotes rather than connected discourse or research conducted under controlled conditions

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Usage

What does anecdotal mean? Anecdotal describes something that is related to a short account of an incident from a particular perspective.Something that is anecdotal is a story told through anecdotes. An anecdote is a short recounting of an event from someone’s point of view, normally in a pleasant or humorous manner. For example, anecdotal history is a historical account that is laid out through the perspectives of the people involved.Anecdotal also describes something, such as research, that is based on personal observation and experience. Anecdotal evidence can be gathered by interviews, surveys, and other methods that allow people to share their experiences with the researcher.  In comparison, scientific evidence is gathered by comparing a dependent and independent variable in a controlled environment. Both types of evidence are important, but anecdotal evidence can’t prove something the way repeated testing and consistent results can.Example: My science paper relied on anecdotal evidence instead of experimentation, so the teacher gave me a low grade.

Other Word Forms

• anecdotalism noun
• anecdotally adverb
• unanecdotal adjective

Etymology

Origin of anecdotal

First recorded in 1830–40; anecdote + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Some reservists have already served five or more tours since the 2023 Hamas attacks, and there are anecdotal reports of that some are refusing to serve again.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

In the Fed’s anecdotal look at the economy, businesses repeatedly mentioned their rising healthcare costs.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 6, 2026

The report gathers anecdotal information on current economic conditions from the Fed’s 12 regional banks.

From Barron's • Mar. 1, 2026

Instead “it does appear from anecdotal reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has shifted its activities from the core cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to the state’s suburbs, exurbs and small towns.”

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

While the broader concerns about attention span are widespread among scholars, the evidence can be indirect, some of it anecdotal.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• unreliable
• unscientific