experimental

adjective

ex·​per·​i·​men·​tal ik-ˌsper-ə-ˈmen-tᵊl 

also -ˌspir-

1

: of, relating to, or based on experience or experiment

2

a

: serving the ends of or used as a means of experimentation

an experimental school

b

: relating to or having the characteristics of experiment : tentative

still in the experimental stage

experimentally

ik-ˌsper-ə-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē 

also -ˌspir-

adverb

Synonyms of experimental

• developmental
• investigative
• trial
• preliminary
• pilot

Examples of experimental in a Sentence

The fuel is being used on an experimental basis.

an experimental procedure for patients suffering from leukemia

Recent Examples on the Web

Especially the experimental Wooster theater group Dafoe founded in 1975, which stripped apart classic texts in the modern age with raw, physical performances. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2026

Driven by social media hype and a growing distrust of public health guidance, consumer demand for experimental peptides has exploded over the last decade. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Five of the paintings have been newly cleaned, their brilliant palettes revealing a bold, experimental hand that deployed academic modeling and Impressionistic dissolution side by side. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026

Perhaps one of the Cold War’s boldest ideas never progressed beyond the experimental stage. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin experīmentālis, from Latin experīmentum "testing, experience, proof" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at experiment entry 1

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing experimental

• pre-experimental

Rhymes for experimental

• coincidental
• developmental
• environmental
• intersegmental
• nongovernmental
• transcontinental
• unsentimental
• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental

Kids Definition

experimental

adjective

ex·​per·​i·​men·​tal ik-ˌsper-ə-ˈment-ᵊl 

1

a

: of, relating to, or based on experience or experiment

experimental evidence

b

: subjected to the condition that is different from normal for a factor being tested in an experiment

the experimental group

2

: relating to or having the characteristics of experiment : tentative sense 1

still in the experimental stage

experimentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Medical Definition

experimental

adjective

ex·​per·​i·​men·​tal ik-ˌsper-ə-ˈment-ᵊl also -ˌspir- 

1

: of, relating to, or based on experience or experiment

2

: founded on or derived from experiment

the heart of the experimental method is the direct control of the thing studied

—B. F. Skinner

3

of a disease : intentionally produced especially in laboratory animals for the purpose of study

experimental diabetes

experimentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb