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

Layered within its experimental form is a commentary on immigration and 21st century America, as the family regularly encounters Latinx migrants whose own families have been disrupted by the indifference of American immigration policies. — Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026

Istituto Marangoni Shanghai has used its 2026 graduate show to not only explore self-discovery, but road-test the future of experimental retail. — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026

Investors on the libertarian fringe of the biotech industry are making their dream of widespread access to experimental drugs a reality in Montana, Politico explains. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 16 Sep. 2026

That figure includes both acquisitions of entire companies and license deals for specific experimental drugs or types of technology , such as gene editing. — Jeff Marks,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 15 Sep. 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