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

Manager Terry Francona said he’s told his big leaguers not to use the experimental rules in spring training. —C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025

The military has been interested in hypersonic technology for decades, but the interest has transitioned in recent years from an experimental nature to an operational basis, with mixed success. —Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2025

Existential unease permeated the festival program, though the Forum — the section dedicated to more experimental works — conjured this mood at the most forceful, and visually transportive, register. —Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

Reporting Highlights Price of Independence: Georgia’s experimental alternative to Medicaid expansion has cost taxpayers more than $86 million. —Margaret Coker, ProPublica, 19 Feb. 2025

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