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

In the past few months, a pair of promising heart drugs failed in clinical trials. — Adam Cohen, Oklahoman, 22 Sep. 2026

Ionis Pharma said an experimental therapy for a rare form of ALS prolonged survival and slowed the progression of the disease in a Phase 3 clinical trial. — Elaine Chen, STAT, 22 Sep. 2026

Its funding, distributed largely through grants to academic researchers at universities, supports everything from basic biological research to clinical trials and has helped the biotechnology industry flourish. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026

Treatment options for diffuse hemispheric glioma are few; brain cancers in general are often excluded from clinical trials. — Arthur Allen, CBS News, 21 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