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

As the visionary figure, Bambaataa brought the sampling ethos to the music as well as an Afrocentric philosophy, a way of living unbounded by the earthly confines of whatever America had been or would become. —Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

Ahead, a sampling of what reviewers are saying about Michael. —Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 23 Apr. 2026

Continuous sampling of water and marine life also showed that radioactivity in seafood generally declined over time and distance from Fukushima, remaining within safe limits. —Eduardo B. Farfán, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026

The education division of Maker Park Radio, a nonprofit streaming station based in Stapleton, offers courses on vinyl, hip-hop lyric writing, live remixing, and intro to music production and sampling. —The Editors, Curbed, 16 Apr. 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