experimental

[ik-sper-uh-men-tl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR experimental ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

pertaining to, derived from, or founded on experiment: an experimental science.

of the nature of an experiment; tentative: The new program is still in an experimental stage.

functioning as an experiment or used for experimentation: an experimental airplane.

based on or derived from experience; empirical: experimental knowledge.

noun

something that is experimental.

Nearby words

Origin of experimental

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word experīmentālis. See experiment, -al¹

Related forms

ex·per·i·men·tal·ly, adverbnon·ex·per·i·men·tal, adjectivenon·ex·per·i·men·tal·ly, adverbpost·ex·per·i·men·tal, adjective

pre·ex·per·i·men·tal, adjectivepseu·do·ex·per·i·men·tal, adjectivepseu·do·ex·per·i·men·tal·ly, adverbqua·si-ex·per·i·men·tal, adjectivequa·si-ex·per·i·men·tal·ly, adverbsem·i·ex·per·i·men·tal, adjectivesem·i·ex·per·i·men·tal·ly, adverbun·ex·per·i·men·tal, adjectiveun·ex·per·i·men·tal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for experimental

The course Jackson taught at VMI, “Natural and Experimental Philosophy,” was brutally difficult.
Stonewall Jackson, VMI’s Most Embattled Professor|S. C. Gwynne|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I made experimental commercials in the experimental division of a production house, Film X, that made commercials for ad agencies.
The Renegade: Robert Downey Sr. on His Classic Films, Son’s Battle with Drugs, and Bill Cosby|Marlow Stern|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Rather than the finalized models, we display the experimental work-in-progress ones,” Migarou says.
Frank Gehry Is Architecture’s Mad Genius|Sarah Moroz|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All three are first-person works, and each could be labeled “experimental” in its own way.
Lars Iyer’s ‘Wittgenstein Jr.’ Plumbs the Deep Fun of Philosophical Fiction|Drew Smith|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But with LSD, because it was countercultural, and because it was used as an experimental drug, it was not marketed properly.
Frances McDormand on 'Olive Kitteridge,' Dropping LSD, and Her Beef With FX's 'Fargo'|Marlow Stern|September 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An experimental science may become deductive by the mere progress of experiment.
Analysis of Mr. Mill's System of Logic|William Stebbing
This experimental cell should be taken apart when not in use.
The Study of Elementary Electricity and Magnetism by Experiment|Thomas M. St. John
A cold doubt creeps into the experimental mind of Aristotle, with all his learning and his logic.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume I|John Lord
To test these principles on a larger scale, the experimental magnet was constructed, which is shown in Fig. 6.
Little Masterpieces of Science:|Various
The thought of a traitor at the experimental station was repugnant to the Swifts and to Bud as well.
Tom Swift and The Visitor from Planet X|Victor Appleton

British Dictionary definitions for experimental

experimental

adjective

relating to, based on, or having the nature of experimentan experimental study

based on or derived from experience; empiricalexperimental evidence

tending to experimentan experimental artist

tentative or provisionalan experimental rule in football

Derived Formsexperimentally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for experimental

experimental

adj.

mid 15c., "having experience," from experiment (n.) + -al (1). Meaning "based on experience" is from 1560s. Meaning "for the sake of experiment" is from 1792 (e.g. Experimental farm).