sampling

noun

sam·​pling ˈsam-pliŋ 

for senses 1 & 3

-p(ə-)liŋ 

1

: the act, process, or technique of selecting a suitable sample

specifically : the act, process, or technique of selecting a representative part of a population for the purpose of determining parameters or characteristics of the whole population

2

: a small part selected as a sample for inspection or analysis

ask a sampling of people which candidate they favor

3

: the introduction or promotion of a product by distributing trial packages of it

Synonyms

• cross section
• sample
• sampler
• selection
• slice

Examples of sampling in a Sentence

The reporter asked a sampling of people about their eating habits.

a sampling of the menu's entrées

We were given a sampling of the food.

The band does a lot of sampling.

Recent Examples on the Web

So far, sampling has found nearly 12% of U.S. water utilities are above the Biden administration’s limits. —Michael Phillis, Twin Cities, 15 May 2025

Tickets for unlimited sampling cost $55+, or $100+ for VIP (includes early entry at 3 p.m.). —Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2025

The advisory was announced on April 10, 2025, following a positive test result discovered during routine sampling by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. —Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025

Walker, who was born in 2001, has a fondness for turn-of-the century British bangers, and the sort of brazen sampling that made hip-hop and dance music so exciting back in the day. —Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sampling

• chorionic villus sampling

Rhymes for sampling

• trampling
• resampling
• subsampling

Medical Definition

sampling

noun

sam·​pling ˈsam-pliŋ 

1

: the act, process, or technique of selecting a suitable sample

specifically : the act, process, or technique of selecting a representative part of a population for the purpose of determining parameters or characteristics of the whole population

2

: sample

obtain a sampling of urine