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
The theory that certain reptiles innately recognize the dangers associated with smoke is supported by years of anecdotal evidence.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025
South Africa is thought to have a coastal undersea freshwater bonanza, too, and there is at least anecdotal evidence that every continent may have the same.
—Rodrique Ngowi, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
But while the long-term trend in the West suggests young people are increasingly disengaged with mainstream religion, recent surveys and anecdotal evidence point to a rise in interest in Catholicism among Gen Z in the United States and Europe.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Trump argued crime was the primary reason for why residents and tourists weren’t eating out in the past few years, offering anecdotal evidence to back up his point.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anecdotal evidence
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Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025
South Africa is thought to have a coastal undersea freshwater bonanza, too, and there is at least anecdotal evidence that every continent may have the same.
—Rodrique Ngowi, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
But while the long-term trend in the West suggests young people are increasingly disengaged with mainstream religion, recent surveys and anecdotal evidence point to a rise in interest in Catholicism among Gen Z in the United States and Europe.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Trump argued crime was the primary reason for why residents and tourists weren’t eating out in the past few years, offering anecdotal evidence to back up his point.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anecdotal evidence
Cite this Entry
“Anecdotal evidence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anecdotal%20evidence. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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