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

Over time, however, observational and experimental evidence has increasingly supported Dudley's view.

Read more on Science Daily

"What could change the dial are experimental studies or evaluations of natural experiments. So evaluating the Australia ban is hugely important because it actually gives us a window on what might be happening."

Read more on Barron's

A key part of the work showed that protecting newborns from RSV in experimental models prevented these immune system shifts altogether.

Read more on Science Daily

England fans could not have hoped for a more entertaining evening at Wembley Stadium - but with Sarina Wiegman resisting the urge to be more experimental, how much did she actually learn from it?

Read more on BBC

For low and intermediate intensities, the theoretical model captures only part of the experimental behavior.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• empirical 
• preliminary 
• unproved