experimental
Americanadjective
-
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
adjective
-
relating to, based on, or having the nature of experiment
an experimental study
-
based on or derived from experience; empirical
experimental evidence
-
tending to experiment
an experimental artist
-
tentative or provisional
an experimental rule in football
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
nonexperimentaladjective
-
unexperimentallyadverb
-
pseudoexperimentallyadverb
-
semiexperimentaladjective
-
preexperimentaladjective
-
pseudoexperimentaladjective
-
quasi-experimentallyadverb
-
nonexperimentallyadverb
-
postexperimentaladjective
-
unexperimentaladjective
-
semiexperimentallyadverb
-
experimentallyadverb
-
quasi-experimentaladjective
Etymology
Origin of experimental
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word experīmentālis. See experiment, -al 1
Explanation
The adjective experimental is good for describing things that are still in a trial stage. An experimental drug is usually tested in a lab for years before being used on patients. Something that's experimental is at an early stage, being observed, tested out, and subjected to experiments as it's being developed. An experimental space craft might be launched and watched from afar as scientists decide what changes to make before it can be used for human space exploration. Experimental medicines are sometimes tested on animals before they're given to people. The 15th century meaning was "having experience," from the Latin root experimentum, "test or trial."
Vocabulary lists containing experimental
Awkward
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Content Summary 5.1: Causes of the Atlantic Revolutions
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for July 3–July 9, 2021
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Three years later, it partnered with the art collective Gerard & Kelly on an experimental project performed inside modernist dwellings, including the Schindler House.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
Sidewalk closures, fence hopping and rerouting were common for these experimental pedestrians who often concluded that this is not a good plan for getting to the World Cup.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026
The team created a new experimental system in which one fish watched and responded to another fish that was swimming nearby.
From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026
Without any products on the market, Fulcrum Therapeutics had been striving to commercialize its experimental drug for sickle cell disease, but those plans appear to now be on hold.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
The Torricellian barometer was the first experimental apparatus around which a normal science developed.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
