empirically

[em-pir-ik-lee]

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of empirically¹

empirical ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

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

From Salon

What do we know empirically about Donald Trump's base of support?

From Salon

Even Aristotle, who could be said to have launched literary criticism, set forth the precepts of tragedy by empirically studying the indelible examples of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides.

From Los Angeles Times

“It is not historically or empirically grounded, as the environmental components of fascism were quite limited.”

From Salon

His remit was to “clean up the corruption,” “end the conflicts of interest,” and “return those agencies to their rich tradition of gold standard, empirically based, evidence-based science, evidence-based medicine,” Kennedy said.

From Science Magazine