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 experiment
1
a
: test, trial
… make another / experiment of his suspicion …—William Shakespeare
b
: a tentative procedure or policy
The company is trying an experiment in staggered starting times.
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 of experiment

Relevance

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
In our democratic experiment, our most fundamental duty is to see our neighbors as wholly human. — Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 The American experiment is not preserved only in speeches or monuments. — Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Verb
She's also experimented with turning some iconic scenes from the war into new embroidery motifs. — ABC News, 30 June 2026 So, bringing the expressive pads allowed people to experiment with making music by sliding their fingers across them, putting a snare in the middle and a rim shot around the edges. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 June 2026 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

1667, 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
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Cite this Entry

“Experiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/experiment. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on experiment

Nglish: Translation of experiment for Spanish Speakers

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