experiment

1 of 3

noun (1)

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 3

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

experimenter

3 of 3

noun (2)

ex·​per·​i·​ment·​er
variants or experimentor
", 
(ˌ)⸗ˌ⸗⸗ˈmen‧ˌtȯ(ə)r, 
-ȯ(ə)
plural -s
: one that experiments or conducts an experiment
specifically : one that conducts an experiment in introspective psychology by arranging and determining the physical conditions of the observer's experience

Synonyms of experiment

Relevance

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of experiment in a Sentence

Noun (1) 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
My first experiments with my at-home cream top were pretty simple. — Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026 Called the Party Line project and run by a mental health startup, Matter Neuroscience, the experiment has given liberals and conservatives a direct line into each other’s lives. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
Designers are experimenting with different fits and fabrics to give the traditional jacket a more modern look. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026 Well, arguably, Netflix has been experimenting, but in other ways, like signing YouTubers. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for experiment

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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 (1)

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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Experiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/experiment. Accessed 20 Oct. 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
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