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 of sampling

• sample

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

Like Muir, Lustmord’s Brian Williams creates harrowing, light-devouring music by digitally manipulating a vast library of sounds he’s collected via sampling and field recording. —Brad Sanders, Pitchfork, 8 June 2026

On this day, an oyster shooter ($10) allowed for a bracing sampling of the house bloody mary (Pow! —Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2026

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles area. —Holly Andres, Daily News, 4 June 2026

Industry stats on petite clothing brands are not widely available, but in a sampling of 20 designer websites ranging from Sandro to Staud, only four included any petite-specific items (thank you, Calvin Klein, Theory, Lafayette 148, and Eileen Fisher). —Yerin Kim, InStyle, 3 June 2026

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