laboratory

noun

lab·​o·​ra·​to·​ry ˈla-b(ə-)rə-ˌtȯr-ē 

sometimes ˈla-bər-ˌtȯr-

or ˈla-bə-ˌtȯr-

or lə-ˈbȯr-ə-ˌtȯr-

plural laboratories

often attributive

1

a

: a place equipped for experimental study in a science or for testing and analysis

a research laboratory

broadly : a place providing opportunity for experimentation, observation, or practice in a field of study

b

: a place like a laboratory for testing, experimentation, or practice

That area is a laboratory for cultivating the germ of terrorism.

2

: an academic period set aside for laboratory work

a course of study requiring two lectures and one laboratory per week

Examples of laboratory in a Sentence

experiments conducted in a modern laboratory

Recent Examples on the Web

Not only is Costco located all across the country and has 145 million cardholders, but IMI RMA is a leading expert in fertility care with its own large network of IVF laboratories. —Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026

The health beat takes her inside operating rooms, laboratories and clinics to tell the story of health care from a human perspective. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026

That is why laboratories are uniquely catastrophic targets. —Dave Doneson, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026

One potential strategy is encouraging new office and laboratory space through infill development projects, which can be approved by the City Council without voter approval. —Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin laboratorium, from Latin laborare to labor, from labor

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing laboratory

• lab/laboratory rat
• laboratory test
• language laboratory

Rhymes for laboratory

• accusatory
• admonitory
• ambulatory
• amendatory
• celebratory
• circulatory
• combinatory
• commendatory
• compensatory
• condemnatory
• confirmatory
• confiscatory

Kids Definition

laboratory

noun

lab·​o·​ra·​to·​ry ˈlab-(ə-)rə-ˌtōr-ē  -ˌtȯr- 

plural laboratories

: a place equipped for making scientific experiments and tests

Medical Definition

laboratory

noun

lab·​o·​ra·​to·​ry

ˈlab-(ə-)rə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr-, British usually lə-ˈbär-ə-t(ə-)rē

plural laboratories

often attributive

: a place equipped for experimental study in a science or for testing and analysis