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

• sample

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

There will be hand-on training to conduct water quality testing and macro-invertebrate sampling. —Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025

Here is a sampling of the voyages available in the region. —Stefanie Waldek, AFAR Media, 12 Sep. 2025

Researchers are already planning to expand their sampling, looking at eggs from different rock layers to build an even more detailed regional timeline. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025

The early sampling, Pegula believes, likely laid the groundwork for her hand-eye coordination. —Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sampling

• chorionic villus sampling

Rhymes for sampling

• trampling
• resampling
• subsampling

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