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

experimentally

ik-ˌsper-ə-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē 

 also  -ˌspir-

adverb

Synonyms

• developmental
• pilot
• trial

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

Those beverages were part of its experimental Creations line, which was aimed at attracting young drinkers. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 24 Sep. 2024

Nine days before landfall, an experimental A.I. modeling system called GraphCast predicted that outcome. —Joe Spring, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024

Key Takeaways In a phase 1 trial, Novo Nordisk's experimental obesity drug amycretin led to up to 13% weight loss in just three months. —Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 23 Sep. 2024

Jonathon Keats is an award-winning writer, artist, and experimental philosopher who has been writing critical commentary about museum exhibitions for Forbes since 2012. —Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin experīmentālis, from Latin experīmentum "testing, experience, proof" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at experiment entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing experimental

• pre-experimental

Kids 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

experimentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

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

3

of a disease : intentionally produced especially in laboratory animals for the purpose of study

experimental diabetes

experimentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb