experiment

1 of 2

noun

ex·​per·​i·​ment ik-ˈsper-ə-mənt How to pronounce experiment (audio)
also
-ˈspir- How to pronounce experiment (audio)
1
a
: test, trial
make another experiment of his suspicionWilliam Shakespeare
b
: a tentative procedure or policy
c
: an operation or procedure carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to test or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law
2
obsolete : experience
3
: the process of testing : experimentation

experiment

2 of 2

verb

ex·​per·​i·​ment ik-ˈsper-ə-ˌment How to pronounce experiment (audio)
 also  -ˈspir
experimented; experimenting; experiments

intransitive verb

: to carry out experiments : try out a new procedure, idea, or activity
experimentation
ik-ˌsper-ə-mən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce experiment (audio)
-ˌmen-
 also  -ˌspir-
noun
experimenter
ik-ˈsper-ə-ˌmen-tər How to pronounce experiment (audio)
 also  -ˈspir-
noun

Examples of experiment in a Sentence

Noun Students will carry out simple laboratory experiments. They did some experiments with magnets. These theories have not yet been confirmed by experiment. an experiment in living more frugally the city's experiment with a longer school year
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Its Beagle Freedom Bill — which requires labs to offer healthy dogs and cats for adoption once experiments have ended — has been passed in 13 states, including California, Maryland and Virginia. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 The remote control has a 50-foot range, giving your little one plenty of room to race and experiment. Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 18 Mar. 2024 Still the hope is that experiments like these will offer a template for other Olympics in the future, and other cities worldwide. Catherine Porter, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024 Her community practices a cultural tradition of socially distancing widows, but Sanjivani unexpectedly finds healing when a mental health experiment instead brings widows together. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 With both men ready to propose, Chelsea ultimately made the decision to continue the experiment with Jimmy and ended things with Trevor shortly after. Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 In the meantime, physicists are pushing ahead with digital experiments. Quanta Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 The experiment is part of a push to nearshore Walmart’s supply chain and cut down on emissions and waste associated with textile production. Alden Wicker, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 Madlyn drunkenly picked fights with Colby about real and/or perceived slights, while Colby literally cheated on Madlyn off-camera, kissing another woman not involved with the experiment at all. Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2024
Verb
From biscuits and chorizo-thyme gravy ($16) to tres leches bread pudding ($12), there are plenty of opportunities for curious diners to experiment. The Indianapolis Star, 20 Mar. 2024 Many of the churches photographed are constructed from, or heavily feature concrete — both a cheap material, and one architects were using to experiment with and test out pioneering new designs. Suyin Haynes, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024 Three out of every four leading health care companies are experimenting with generative AI or attempting to scale it across their business, Deloitte says. Byjohn Kell, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024 Isaiah now excels in creating detailed storyboards and experimenting with lighting effects, demonstrating his technical proficiency and artistic flair. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024 Mariya loves black and experimenting with silhouettes that enhance the elegance of her clients. Vogue Club, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 Outside of Youtube, other prominent kid’s content creators are also experimenting. Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 12 Mar. 2024 The debut edition of the Netflix Is a Joke Festival featured 295 live shows, and the streamer has continued to experiment with its comedy programming, last year debuting a live stand-up show by Chris Rock. Addie Morfoot, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 New York is one of many cities around the globe experimenting with ways to restrict short-term rentals, in response to the way Airbnb and other sites have changed the makeup of neighborhoods and brought tourists into previously purely residential areas. Amanda Hoover, WIRED, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'experiment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "testing, proof, remedy," borrowed from Anglo-French esperiment, borrowed from Latin experīmentum "testing, experience, proof," from experīrī "to put to the test, attempt, have experience of, undergo" + -mentum -ment — more at experience entry 1

Verb

verbal derivative of experiment entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1787, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of experiment was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near experiment

Cite this Entry

“Experiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/experiment. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

experiment

1 of 2 noun
ex·​per·​i·​ment ik-ˈsper-ə-mənt How to pronounce experiment (audio)
: test entry 1 sense 1, trial entry 1 sense 1
especially : a procedure or operation carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover something, to test a hypothesis, or to serve as an example

experiment

2 of 2 verb
ex·​per·​i·​ment ik-ˈsper-ə-ˌment How to pronounce experiment (audio)
: to make experiments
experimentation noun

Medical Definition

experiment

1 of 2 noun
ex·​per·​i·​ment
ik-ˈsper-ə-mənt also -ˈspir-
1
: a procedure carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to test or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law
2
: the process of testing : experimentation

experiment

2 of 2 intransitive verb
ex·​per·​i·​ment -ˌment How to pronounce experiment (audio)
: to carry out experiments

More from Merriam-Webster on experiment

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