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

Here’s a sampling of watch parties and other things to see and do as Hurricanes fever takes over South Florida this weekend. —Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles area. —Holly Andres, Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026

Costas also gave a sampling of accomplishments the city achieved last year, from $17 million in street and sidewalk investment to $80 million in utility infrastructure improvements. —Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026

But there’s no one on any planet that could read anything but a small sampling of the books that come out in a particular time period, even in a certain category. —Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 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