experimental

adjective

ex·​per·​i·​men·​tal ik-ˌsper-ə-ˈmen-tᵊl 

also -ˌspir-

1

: of, relating to, or based on experience or experiment

2

a

: serving the ends of or used as a means of experimentation

an experimental school

b

: relating to or having the characteristics of experiment : tentative

still in the experimental stage

experimentally

ik-ˌsper-ə-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē 

also -ˌspir-

adverb

Synonyms of experimental

• developmental
• investigative
• trial
• preliminary
• pilot

Examples of experimental in a Sentence

The fuel is being used on an experimental basis.

an experimental procedure for patients suffering from leukemia

Recent Examples on the Web

Their shared ambition is straightforward, which is to move fusion from experimental physics rigs into commercially viable power plants. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026

Throughout the 1960s and early ’70s, Brass mainly focused on avant-garde filmmaking, with his credits including two experimental shorts commissioned by Umberto Eco entitled Tempo Libero and Tempo Lavorativo. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026

No sooner are they spoken than the phenomenal, speaker-busting score by the experimental folk band Lankum crashes into the space. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2026

Shares in the roughly $35 billion company surged 48% last week, including a 29% jump in a single session after strong results for petosemtamab, its experimental head and neck cancer treatment. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin experīmentālis, from Latin experīmentum "testing, experience, proof" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at experiment entry 1

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing experimental

• pre-experimental

Rhymes for experimental

• coincidental
• developmental
• environmental
• intersegmental
• nongovernmental
• transcontinental
• unsentimental
• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental

Kids Definition

experimental

adjective

ex·​per·​i·​men·​tal ik-ˌsper-ə-ˈment-ᵊl 

1

a

: of, relating to, or based on experience or experiment

experimental evidence

b

: subjected to the condition that is different from normal for a factor being tested in an experiment

the experimental group

2

: relating to or having the characteristics of experiment : tentative sense 1

still in the experimental stage

experimentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Medical Definition

experimental

adjective

ex·​per·​i·​men·​tal ik-ˌsper-ə-ˈment-ᵊl also -ˌspir- 

1

: of, relating to, or based on experience or experiment

2

: founded on or derived from experiment

the heart of the experimental method is the direct control of the thing studied

—B. F. Skinner

3

of a disease : intentionally produced especially in laboratory animals for the purpose of study

experimental diabetes

experimentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb