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
Her recent works, however, including The Colors Within and the 2021 historical epic series The Heike Story, have been produced under Science SARU, a studio known for its multinational staff, international co-productions, and more experimental styles.
—
Kayti Burt, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2025
Moscow has launched next-generation weapons against Kyiv throughout the nearly three years of war in Ukraine, including an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile in November and several hypersonic missiles.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
The experimental opera company is celebrating Sharon’s 10-plus years of visionary work and marking his legacy with a new fund to support the next generation of art and opera.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
The book is a disjointed, experimental compilation of an unnamed man’s variegated erotic fantasies.
—Victoria Uren, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for experimental 
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Kayti Burt, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2025
Moscow has launched next-generation weapons against Kyiv throughout the nearly three years of war in Ukraine, including an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile in November and several hypersonic missiles.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
The experimental opera company is celebrating Sharon’s 10-plus years of visionary work and marking his legacy with a new fund to support the next generation of art and opera.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
The book is a disjointed, experimental compilation of an unnamed man’s variegated erotic fantasies.
—Victoria Uren, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for experimental
Articles Related to experimental
Dictionary Entries Near experimental
Cite this Entry
“Experimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/experimental. Accessed 2 Feb. 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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