scientific

adjective

sci·​en·​tif·​ic ˌsī-ən-ˈti-fik 

1

: of, relating to, or exhibiting the methods or principles of science

2

: conducted in the manner of science or according to results of investigation by science : practicing or using thorough or systematic methods

scientific advertising

scientific baby care

a scientific boxer

scientifically

ˌsī-ən-ˈti-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of scientific in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Similarly, these facilities could potentially pivot to cloud services, scientific computing, or other workloads, but at what might be massive losses for investors who paid AI-boom prices. —ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025

Multispectral sensors designed to detect subtle soil signatures, rovers carrying mobile cameras and experiments, and plans to piggyback scientific payloads on commercial landers are all part of near-term efforts to move from models and samples toward a working mining plan. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025

To begin with, dissidents in the post-Stalin era, in contrast to their pre-revolutionary predecessors, emerged predominantly from scientific, mathematical, and technical fields. —Benjamin Nathans september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025

Julia is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers all things Labubu and Pop Mart, scientific studies and trending news. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French and Medieval Latin; Middle French sientifique, scientifique, borrowed from Medieval Latin scientificus "producing knowledge, relating to knowledge" (translating Greek epistēmonikós), from Latin scientia "knowledge, science" + -ficus -fic

Note: The Medieval Latin transition in sense from "producing knowledge" to "relating to knowledge" (in the text of a translation of Aristotle's Posterior Analytics) is described in detail in the Oxford English Dictionary, third edition.

First Known Use

1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing scientific

• scientific creationism
• scientific method
• scientific notation
• the scientific method

Rhymes for scientific

• calorific
• conspecific
• hieroglyphic
• honorific
• nonspecific
• soporific
• subspecific
• transpacific
• unspecific
• horrific
• pacific
• prolific

Kids Definition

scientific

adjective

sci·​en·​tif·​ic ˌsī-ən-ˈtif-ik 

: of, relating to, or exhibiting the methods or rules of science

scientifically

-ˈtif-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

scientific

adjective

sci·​en·​tif·​ic ˌsī-ən-ˈtif-ik 

: of, relating to, or exhibiting the methods or principles of science

scientifically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb