anecdotal evidence
noun
: evidence in the form of stories that people tell about what has happened to them
His conclusions are not supported by data; they are based only on anecdotal evidence.
Examples of anecdotal evidence in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Advertisement But the inability to connect information collected at the hotel and motel sites with statewide data from health, housing and other public services agencies left the researchers with only anecdotal evidence to substantiate that conclusion.
—
Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
Extreme wave in Marshall Islands highlights dangers of climate change, experts say
Other historical anecdotal evidence points to fish, birds, reptiles and insects exhibiting strange behavior anywhere from weeks to seconds before an earthquake, the USGS said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 2 May 2024
Still, crime data is notoriously difficult to track and understand, and experts say anecdotal evidence on social media can heavily influence public perceptions of safety and crime.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
There is growing anecdotal evidence that for the first time in Russian history, members of the Russian elite and their children have started to learn Mandarin.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024
The findings provide firm scientific support for anecdotal evidence brown rats had become dominant, outcompeting black rats in most early North American coastal cities by the 1800s.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
Mounting anecdotal evidence from countries like Mexico, where veterinarians can legally administer the plant or its compounds, suggests benefits across a variety of other conditions in species as varied as parrots, turtles and hyenas.
—Rachel Nuwer, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024
Kratom use on the rise The number of people in the United States who use kratom is unclear, though anecdotal evidence and import records suggests an increase in interest and usage.
—Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, 26 Mar. 2024
However, anecdotal evidence of mounting Ukrainian casualties in the war was reinforced by claims made on Ukrainian television this weekend by the country's former prosecutor general.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2024
Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
Extreme wave in Marshall Islands highlights dangers of climate change, experts say
Other historical anecdotal evidence points to fish, birds, reptiles and insects exhibiting strange behavior anywhere from weeks to seconds before an earthquake, the USGS said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 2 May 2024
Still, crime data is notoriously difficult to track and understand, and experts say anecdotal evidence on social media can heavily influence public perceptions of safety and crime.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
There is growing anecdotal evidence that for the first time in Russian history, members of the Russian elite and their children have started to learn Mandarin.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024
The findings provide firm scientific support for anecdotal evidence brown rats had become dominant, outcompeting black rats in most early North American coastal cities by the 1800s.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
Mounting anecdotal evidence from countries like Mexico, where veterinarians can legally administer the plant or its compounds, suggests benefits across a variety of other conditions in species as varied as parrots, turtles and hyenas.
—Rachel Nuwer, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024
Kratom use on the rise The number of people in the United States who use kratom is unclear, though anecdotal evidence and import records suggests an increase in interest and usage.
—Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, 26 Mar. 2024
However, anecdotal evidence of mounting Ukrainian casualties in the war was reinforced by claims made on Ukrainian television this weekend by the country's former prosecutor general.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anecdotal evidence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near anecdotal evidence
Cite this Entry
“Anecdotal evidence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anecdotal%20evidence. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
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