sampling

noun

sam·​pling ˈsam-pliŋ 

for senses 1 & 3

-p(ə-)liŋ 

1

: the act, process, or technique of selecting a suitable sample

specifically : the act, process, or technique of selecting a representative part of a population for the purpose of determining parameters or characteristics of the whole population

2

: a small part selected as a sample for inspection or analysis

ask a sampling of people which candidate they favor

3

: the introduction or promotion of a product by distributing trial packages of it

Synonyms of sampling

• sample

Examples of sampling in a Sentence

The reporter asked a sampling of people about their eating habits.

a sampling of the menu's entrées

We were given a sampling of the food.

The band does a lot of sampling.

Recent Examples on the Web

These will be held in Walmart parking lots as well and will include local recipe sampling and interactive games. — Serenah McKay, Arkansas Online, 22 June 2026

Head to Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery, Fort Lauderdale’s first food hall that opened in 2020, to get a good sampling of some cuisine from around the globe, from sushi to sandwiches, bibimbap to empanadas, in addition to live music events. — Cynthia J Drake, Southern Living, 20 June 2026

Additional sampling is conducted until the quality returns to standard. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026

These enhanced characteristics mean it could be deployed to better effect in existing uses like lab-on-a-chip devices for disease diagnosis and also with new ones, ranging from micro pumps for robotic clothing to tiny actuators environmental sampling. — New Atlas, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sampling

• chorionic villus sampling

Rhymes for sampling

• trampling
• resampling
• subsampling

Medical Definition

sampling

noun

sam·​pling ˈsam-pliŋ 

1

: the act, process, or technique of selecting a suitable sample

specifically : the act, process, or technique of selecting a representative part of a population for the purpose of determining parameters or characteristics of the whole population

2

: sample

obtain a sampling of urine