laboratory
noun
lab·o·ra·to·ry
ˈla-b(ə-)rə-ˌtȯr-ē 
sometimes ˈla-bər-ˌtȯr-
or ˈla-bə-ˌtȯr-
or lə-ˈbȯr-ə-ˌtȯr-
plural laboratories
often attributive
1
a
: a place equipped for experimental study in a science or for testing and analysis
a research laboratory
broadly
: a place providing opportunity for experimentation, observation, or practice in a field of study
b
: a place like a laboratory for testing, experimentation, or practice
That area is a laboratory for cultivating the germ of terrorism.
2
: an academic period set aside for laboratory work
a course of study requiring two lectures and one laboratory per week
Examples of laboratory in a Sentence
experiments conducted in a modern laboratory
Recent Examples on the Web
In a laboratory at the University of Miami, mechanical engineer Giacomo Po is pushing the limits of material science.
—
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2025
Epidemiologic and laboratory data has shown that ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula might be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, the germ that causes botulism, the FDA said Tuesday.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
The University of California has 10 undergraduate and graduate campuses, six academic health centers and three national laboratories across the state.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
The menu at Otaleg is constantly evolving, as Radicioni experiments with new combinations in his gelato laboratory, often concocting head-turning flavors based on his favorite savory dishes.
—Nina Ruggiero, Travel + Leisure, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laboratory
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Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2025
Epidemiologic and laboratory data has shown that ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula might be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, the germ that causes botulism, the FDA said Tuesday.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
The University of California has 10 undergraduate and graduate campuses, six academic health centers and three national laboratories across the state.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
The menu at Otaleg is constantly evolving, as Radicioni experiments with new combinations in his gelato laboratory, often concocting head-turning flavors based on his favorite savory dishes.
—Nina Ruggiero, Travel + Leisure, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laboratory
Cite this Entry
“Laboratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laboratory. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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laboratory
noun
lab·o·ra·to·ry
ˈlab-(ə-)rə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
-ˌtȯr-
plural laboratories
: a place equipped for making scientific experiments and tests
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