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
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In the clinical trial, smartwatch alerts prompted parents to respond within four seconds on average to early signs of escalating stress. Mayo Clinic News Network, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026 As of January 2026, Isomorphic Labs has yet to move a drug into the critical clinical trial phase, though competitors like Insilico have candidates in trials in China. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026 In phase 3 clinical trials, participants who received the drug had a significant reduction in the average number of hourly breathing interruptions compared with those who had a placebo. Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026 Bausch Health — The pharmaceutical stock fell 9% after one of its experimental treatments missed targets in a late-stage clinical trial. Christina Cheddar Berk,liz Napolitano, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clinical trial

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clinical trial was in 1946

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Cite this Entry

“Clinical trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clinical%20trial. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on clinical trial

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