observational
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of observational
First recorded in 1825–35; observation + -al 1
Vocabulary lists containing observational
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.
The authors found that EEA capabilities have improved markedly over the past decade, thanks to advances in understanding physical drivers of events, expanded observational data from satellites and radar, new statistical techniques and better models.
From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026
The majority of the studies on UPFs that make headlines are observational papers looking at associations between self-reported food intake and health outcomes—these tell us little about whether UPFs actually cause ill health.
From Slate ● Jul. 12, 2026
Equally at home in shadowy dives and modern mansions, she proves an adept investigator, with Sherlockian observational skills.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
However, the researchers emphasize that this was an observational study, meaning it cannot determine whether vitamin C directly causes these differences in brain structure or function.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 1, 2026
But he was able to develop on observational grounds something akin to the modern cosmic perspective: What a wonderful and Amazing scheme have we here of the magnificant vastness of the universe ...
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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.
