trial and error
- experimentation or investigation in which various methods or means are tried and faulty ones eliminated in order to find the correct solution or to achieve the desired result or effect.
Origin of trial and error
Related Words for trial and error
analysis, examination, experiment, probe, research, study, test, tentationExamples from the Web for trial and error
Contemporary Examples of trial and error
Rock of Ages, on the other hand, was recorded at the perfect moment: after the trial-and-error period, before the decline.
From there, we subjected ourselves to a lot of trial-and-error.
Historical Examples of trial and error
Its use avoids the wastefulness of the trial-and-error method.
Sound Military DecisionU.s. Naval War College
How may we recognize this potential teacher without resorting to a clumsy, time-wasting, trial-and-error method?
Vocational Guidance for GirlsMarguerite Stockman Dickson
No trial-and-error, no baby hesitation with hand poised—just a sudden assured, controlled action.
The Short LifeFrancis Donovan
trial and error
- a method of discovery, solving problems, etc, based on practical experiment and experience rather than on theoryhe learned to cook by trial and error
trial and error
To “proceed by trial and error” is to experiment, rejecting what does not work and adopting what does.
Idioms and Phrases with trial and error
trial and error
An attempt to accomplish something by trying various means until the correct one is found. for example, The only way to solve this problem is by trial and error. The error here alludes to the failed means or attempts, which are discarded until the right way is found. [c. 1800]