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

Based on the study results, the scientists are now considering moving toward clinical trials in humans with the therapy method. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 30 Jan. 2026

The stop of production on Grey’s Anatomy coincidentally also comes a day after an episode that dealt in part with the revocation of federal funding for a clinical trial. —Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026

Personalized cancer screening strategies, lifestyle approaches to mitigate risks, robotic tools for cancer surgery and new advances in clinical trials are among the presentations on the agenda. —Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union, 29 Jan. 2026

The Andro-Switch was commercially available in France for a few years, but in 2021 the government halted its sale, citing the need for clinical trials. —Ana Castelain, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 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
• supervisorial

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