thought experiment

noun

Examples of thought experiment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Edmonds devotes the second half of his book to detractors of the pond and to opponents of a utilitarian approach to aid—some of whom, of course, have developed thought experiments of their own. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 Some thought experiments were born with transformation in their bones — crafted by philosophers who lived their questions. Shai Tubali, Big Think, 5 Aug. 2025 But thought experiments about the lives of aliens can also tell us something about potential trajectories for intelligent life on Earth. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 5 Aug. 2025 The resulting mysteries and their solutions only get more creative once the gang is back together, even dipping into theoretical science and thought experiments as the basis of his mind-bending stories. Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for thought experiment

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thought experiment was in 1854

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Cite this Entry

“Thought experiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thought%20experiment. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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