sampling

noun

sam·​pling ˈsam-pliŋ 

for senses 1 & 3

-p(ə-)liŋ 

1

: the act, process, or technique of selecting a suitable sample

specifically : the act, process, or technique of selecting a representative part of a population for the purpose of determining parameters or characteristics of the whole population

2

: a small part selected as a sample for inspection or analysis

ask a sampling of people which candidate they favor

3

: the introduction or promotion of a product by distributing trial packages of it

Synonyms

• cross section
• sample
• sampler
• selection
• slice

Examples of sampling in a Sentence

The reporter asked a sampling of people about their eating habits.

a sampling of the menu's entrées

We were given a sampling of the food.

The band does a lot of sampling.

Recent Examples on the Web

Possible evidence of bird flu has been detected in three cities in Maricopa County, Arizona—Phoenix, Surprise and Tempe—through wastewater sampling. —George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024

That meant artists had a heyday without many legal repercussions, and sampling cost nothing because no one paid for rights. —Aaron Gilbreath, SPIN, 31 Dec. 2024

The project has become one of the longest running influenza sampling projects of the same bird populations anywhere in the world, said Dr. Richard Webby, who has taken over the project Webster started. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024

Of course, this is just a sampling of the trends influencing the industry in 2025. —Andrew Schaap, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sampling

• chorionic villus sampling

Medical Definition

sampling

noun

sam·​pling ˈsam-pliŋ 

1

: the act, process, or technique of selecting a suitable sample

specifically : the act, process, or technique of selecting a representative part of a population for the purpose of determining parameters or characteristics of the whole population

2

: sample

obtain a sampling of urine