gedankenexperiment

noun

ge·​dank·​en·​ex·​per·​i·​ment gə-ˈdäŋ-kən-ik-ˌsper-ə-mənt How to pronounce gedankenexperiment (audio)
 also  -ˌspir-
: an experiment carried out in thought only

Examples of gedankenexperiment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Around the same time, a group in Shenzhen also contacted us to discuss carrying out our gedankenexperiment with optical systems. Marc-Olivier Renou, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

German, from Gedanke thought + Experiment experiment

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gedankenexperiment was in 1941

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Cite this Entry

“Gedankenexperiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gedankenexperiment. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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