experiment

[ noun ik-sper-uh-muhnt; verb ek-sper-uh-ment ]

noun

1. a test, trial, or tentative procedure; an act or operation for the purpose of discovering something unknown or of testing a principle, supposition, etc.:

   a chemical experiment; a teaching experiment; an experiment in living.

2. the conducting of such operations; experimentation:

   a product that is the result of long experiment.

   Synonyms: investigation, research

3. Obsolete. experience.

verb (used without object)

1. to try or test, especially in order to discover or prove something:

   to experiment with a new procedure.

experiment

noun

1. a test or investigation, esp one planned to provide evidence for or against a hypothesis: a scientific experiment
2. the act of conducting such an investigation or test; experimentation; research
3. an attempt at something new or different; an effort to be original

   a poetic experiment

4. an obsolete word for experience

verb

1. intr to make an experiment or experiments

experiment

/ ĭk-spĕr′ə-mənt /

1. A test or procedure carried out under controlled conditions to determine the validity of a hypothesis or make a discovery.
2. See Note at hypothesis

Derived Forms

• exˈperiˌmenter, noun

Other Words From

• ex·peri·menter ex·peri·mentor ex·peri·men·tator noun
• preex·peri·ment noun
• proex·peri·ment adjective
• reex·peri·ment verb (used without object) noun
• unex·peri·mented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of experiment¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English: “proof,” from Latin experīmentum “test, trial,” from experī(rī) “to test, try” ( experience ) + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of experiment¹

C14: from Latin experīmentum proof, trial, from experīrī to test; see experience

Synonym Study

See trial.

Example Sentences

But testing a hypothesis is not as simple as conducting a single experiment.

From Slate

So now imagine you could do that same thought experiment, but not just doing it at random, doing it at a large scale while having some metric of screening for those who actually had both the greatest competence as well as the greatest commitment and knowledge of the Constitution.

From Slate

In September, speaking on The Lex Fridman Podcast, Ramaswamy posited what he called a “glib” thought experiment:

From Slate

“For internet and culture regulators, they don’t know how to moderate this type of content either…. Sometimes they experiment with these censorship rules themselves.”

From Los Angeles Times

Patient zero for this ad experiment appears to be X user @FearedBuck, who started as a Milwaukee Bucks fan account but later pivoted to posting Kick clips full time.

From Slate

Related Words

• analysis
• attempt
• enterprise
• examination
• exercise
• experimentation
• measure
• observation
• operation
• practice
• probe
• procedure
• research
• search
• study
• trial
• undertaking
• venture