trial and error

noun

: a finding out of the best way to reach a desired result or a correct solution by trying out one or more ways or means and by noting and eliminating errors or causes of failure

also : the trying of one thing or another until something succeeds

Examples of trial and error in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pappas called it a trial and error process, because there’s a learning curve involved to determine how grass reacts to a new environment. — John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

In their first season of managing Ohtani as a full-season two-way player, there was always going to be some trial and error. — Katie Woo, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

In reinforcement learning, an AI model learns, by trial and error, to maximize a reward that the person training the model establishes. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026

This could help researchers narrow down the huge number of possible molecular structures and reduce some of the trial and error involved in materials discovery. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for trial and error

• bearer
• carer
• fairer
• ferrer
• rarer
• sharer
• terror
• wearer
• cupbearer
• declarer
• preparer
• repairer

Kids Definition

trial and error

noun

: the trying of one thing or another until something succeeds