experimental

[ik-sper-uh-men-tl]

adjective

1. pertaining to, derived from, or founded on experiment.

   an experimental science.

2. of the nature of an experiment; tentative.

   The new program is still in an experimental stage.

3. functioning as an experiment or used for experimentation.

   an experimental airplane.

4. based on or derived from experience; empirical.

   experimental knowledge.

noun

1. something that is experimental.

experimental

/ ɪkˌspɛrɪˈmɛntəl /

adjective

1. relating to, based on, or having the nature of experiment

   an experimental study

2. based on or derived from experience; empirical

   experimental evidence

3. tending to experiment

   an experimental artist

4. tentative or provisional

   an experimental rule in football

Other Word Forms

• experimentally adverb
• nonexperimental adjective
• nonexperimentally adverb
• postexperimental adjective
• preexperimental adjective
• pseudoexperimental adjective
• pseudoexperimentally adverb
• quasi-experimental adjective
• quasi-experimentally adverb
• semiexperimental adjective
• semiexperimentally adverb
• unexperimental adjective
• unexperimentally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of experimental¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word experīmentālis. See experiment, -al ¹

Example Sentences

The scientists combined these experimental results with computer simulations of volcanic behavior.

Read more on Science Daily

Cushioned between the more experimental songs, however, were the real crowd-pleasers: An elegiac version of Lucky, a beautifully twisted No Surprises and a genuinely sublime version of Weird Fishes/Arpeggi.

Read more on BBC

Still, most are in partial or experimental adoption, with only 31% having fully integrated generative AI across core operations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Zap's newest findings from FuZE-3 are still preliminary as the team continues active experimental campaigns.

Read more on Science Daily

We are at the dawn of the era of “experimental cinema.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• empirical 
• preliminary 
• unproved