anecdotal

adjective

an·ec·dot·al | \ ˌa-nik-ˈdō-tᵊl

Definition of anecdotal

1 : based on or consisting of reports or observations of usually unscientific observers anecdotal evidence health benefits that may be more anecdotal than factual

2a : of, relating to, or consisting of anecdotes an anecdotal biography

b : given to or skilled in telling anecdotes : anecdotic sense 2 my anecdotal uncle

3 : of, relating to, or being the depiction of a scene suggesting a story anecdotal details

Other Words from anecdotal More Example Sentences Phrases Containing anecdotal Learn More About anecdotal

Examples of anecdotal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Data on small businesses was scant back then, but anecdotal evidence suggests the damage from stagflation was significant. — Kevin Kelleher, Fortune, 23 June 2022 There’s far more than anecdotal evidence that patient misidentification is a serious and widespread problem in U.S. health care. — Wylecia Wiggs Harris And Tom Cox, STAT, 23 June 2022 This supports the widespread anecdotal evidence that supply disruptions and labor shortages due to Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine account for a lot of the rise in inflation. — Greg Ip, WSJ, 15 June 2022 Ultimately, treatments often come down to doctors’ personal experience or anecdotal evidence. — Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 June 2022 Industry data—as well as anecdotal evidence—point to a sharp slowdown in the housing boom triggered by the pandemic. — Nate Dicamillo, Quartz, 8 June 2022 Consultant James Carville and numerous pragmatic Hispanic leaders have criticized the term as popular among partisan elites but almost unknown and even hated among rank-and-file Hispanic voters, according to polls and anecdotal evidence. — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2022 Part of Flair's anecdotal experience aligns with the latest research. — Brian Roberts, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 But there could be some lag in terms of the anecdotal experience people have and what gets actually reported, and the time in which it actually gets reported centrally. — Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anecdotal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.