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

The Maxwell Ratings playoff projections are based on a Monte Carlo simulation, a computation of random sampling used to predict outcomes, of the 2026 season. — Loren Maxwell, AJC.com, 11 Aug. 2026

The Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force in San Diego County – in collaboration with the Clean Order Water Now programs and the local YMCA’s Camp Surf – have built a lab in Imperial Beach to test water quality and create more sampling sites. — Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026

My aim was to design an in-situ oxygen analyzer for direct installation in high-pressure gas pipelines without extractive sampling, because extraction can introduce delay, potential leakage points and safety compromises. — Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Systematic sampling carries a high risk of catching too much, and too little. — Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 5 Aug. 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