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
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
The 1886 hotel was once an experimental hospital set up by infamous charlatan Norman Baker.
—
Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
The museum also has an experimental concrete house designed by award-winning architect Dave Sellers that can be booked for stays.
—Megan Margulies, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
The whole field was turning into an ideological battleground between proponents of experimental physics, which became known as Deutsche Physik, and theoretical physics, labeled Jüdische Physik.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
In arguably Buster Keaton’s most experimental film, the silent-era slapstick comedian plays a movie projectionist who dreams of becoming a detective.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for experimental
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Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
The museum also has an experimental concrete house designed by award-winning architect Dave Sellers that can be booked for stays.
—Megan Margulies, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
The whole field was turning into an ideological battleground between proponents of experimental physics, which became known as Deutsche Physik, and theoretical physics, labeled Jüdische Physik.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
In arguably Buster Keaton’s most experimental film, the silent-era slapstick comedian plays a movie projectionist who dreams of becoming a detective.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for experimental
Cite this Entry
“Experimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/experimental. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
B. F. Skinner3
of a disease
: intentionally produced especially in laboratory animals for the purpose of study
experimental diabetes
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