clinical trial

noun

: a scientifically controlled study of the safety and effectiveness of a therapeutic agent (such as a drug or vaccine) using consenting human subjects

Examples of clinical trial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mayo Clinic is now running a clinical trial to test whether AI can help identify patients at risk of or with early-stage pancreatic cancer — an application the hospital has said could detect the disease years earlier than the typical diagnosis. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

In one late-stage clinical trial, Merck found that Lipfendra lowered LDL cholesterol levels by up to 60% after 24 weeks. — Anne Thompson, NBC news, 16 July 2026

Most adults have levels of LDL above 100, but the new pill can lower levels to 50 or even lower, clinical trials show. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 July 2026

Now, the biopharma industry could be next as Kalshi, one of the world’s largest prediction market exchanges, plans to take bets on clinical trials and regulatory approvals, STAT reports. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clinical trial

• sensorial
• denial
• mistrial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• dial
• rial
• thiol
• vial

Medical Definition

clinical trial

noun

: a scientifically controlled study of the safety and effectiveness of a therapeutic agent (as a drug or vaccine) using consenting human subjects