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

Prescribing, dispensing and enabling the sale of retatrutide — which is still in clinical trials — violate those standards. — Daniel Gilbert, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

More advanced clinical trials are needed before this blood test could possibly be used in the clinic, but the results are promising in a disease that is so difficult to manage. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2026

As regulators look to shrink the length of time spent on drug discovery, Isomorphic is betting on a way to quickly transition from discovery to early stage clinical trials. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Because the company conducted its clinical trial solely with IPF patients, the results may be specific to this condition. — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 15 Sep. 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