experiment

1 of 2

noun

ex·​per·​i·​ment ik-ˈsper-ə-mənt How to pronounce experiment (audio)
also
-ˈspir- How to pronounce experiment (audio)
Synonyms of experimentnext
1
a
: test, trial
make another experiment of his suspicion— William Shakespeare
b
: a tentative procedure or policy
c
: an operation or procedure carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to test or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law
2
obsolete : experience
3
: the process of testing : experimentation

experiment

2 of 2

verb

ex·​per·​i·​ment ik-ˈsper-ə-ˌment How to pronounce experiment (audio)
 also  -ˈspir
experimented; experimenting; experiments

intransitive verb

: to carry out experiments : try out a new procedure, idea, or activity
experimentation
ik-ˌsper-ə-mən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce experiment (audio)
-ˌmen-
 also  -ˌspir-
noun
experimenter
ik-ˈsper-ə-ˌmen-tər How to pronounce experiment (audio)
 also  -ˈspir-
noun

Synonyms

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of experiment in a Sentence

Noun Students will carry out simple laboratory experiments. They did some experiments with magnets. These theories have not yet been confirmed by experiment. an experiment in living more frugally the city's experiment with a longer school year
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The failure of the Watson experiment has left the Browns with limited salary-cap flexibility, so Flacco returning with a $4 million base salary helps the team in the short term. — Zac Jackson, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 The initial test site is near UC Irvine’s recreation center, with pipes running beneath daycare facilities, and future experiments are planned for UC San Diego’s campus. — Jesse Kuehn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
Banks are experimenting with instant approval systems already, but few have bundled these capabilities into a single environment that handles everything from the initial loan inquiry to the final funding step. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 In Margate, Turner experimented with materials like cloth, knives, and even bread to create the mottled topography of his paintings. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for experiment

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "testing, proof, remedy," borrowed from Anglo-French esperiment, borrowed from Latin experīmentum "testing, experience, proof," from experīrī "to put to the test, attempt, have experience of, undergo" + -mentum -ment — more at experience entry 1

Verb

verbal derivative of experiment entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1787, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of experiment was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing experiment

Rhymes for experiment

See All Rhymes for experiment

Browse Nearby Words

experiential time
experiment
experimental
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Experiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/experiment. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

experiment

1 of 2 noun
ex·​per·​i·​ment ik-ˈsper-ə-mənt How to pronounce experiment (audio)
: test entry 1 sense 1, trial entry 1 sense 1
especially : a procedure or operation carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover something, to test a hypothesis, or to serve as an example

experiment

2 of 2 verb
ex·​per·​i·​ment ik-ˈsper-ə-ˌment How to pronounce experiment (audio)
: to make experiments
experimentation
ik-ˌsper-ə-mən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce experiment (audio)
-ˌmen-
noun

Medical Definition

experiment

1 of 2 noun
ex·​per·​i·​ment
ik-ˈsper-ə-mənt also -ˈspir-
1
: a procedure carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to test or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law
2
: the process of testing : experimentation

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