trial and error

noun

1. 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.

trial and error

noun

1. a method of discovery, solving problems, etc, based on practical experiment and experience rather than on theory

   he learned to cook by trial and error

trial and error

1. To “proceed by trial and error” is to experiment, rejecting what does not work and adopting what does.

Other Words From

• trial-and-error adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trial and error¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

The men understand nothing of their new situation and must learn the rules through trial and error.

From Los Angeles Times

He describes how the AI co-pilot picked up fighting tactics by a process of trial and error.

From BBC

It took a whole mess of trial and error, seeing what worked for me in terms of outlining everything, but then a few years ago, I felt like a little switch went on.

From Los Angeles Times

So was the technique that evolved through trial and error.

From Los Angeles Times

He says the algorithms use “reinforcement learning” - a method where AI systems learn by trial and error - and train themselves to detect behaviour towards different videos.

From BBC