laboratory
noun
lab·o·ra·to·ry
ˈla-b(ə-)rə-ˌtȯr-ē 
sometimes ˈla-bər-ˌtȯr-,
or ˈla-bə-ˌtȯr-,
or lə-ˈbȯr-ə-ˌtȯr-
plural laboratories
often attributive
1
a
: a place equipped for experimental study in a science or for testing and analysis
a research laboratory
broadly
: a place providing opportunity for experimentation, observation, or practice in a field of study
b
: a place like a laboratory for testing, experimentation, or practice
That area is a laboratory for cultivating the germ of terrorism.
2
: an academic period set aside for laboratory work
a course of study requiring two lectures and one laboratory per week
Examples of laboratory in a Sentence
experiments conducted in a modern laboratory
Recent Examples on the Web
In November 2023, the Queens DA's Cold Case Unit and the New York Police Department reached out to a private laboratory to try to learn more about the victim.
—
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2024
However, these record-breaking cells are currently made in laboratories and are smaller than a postage stamp.
—Rob Reddick, WIRED, 31 Dec. 2024
The federal government spends about as much money on just two laboratories: Sandia, in Albuquerque, which designs weapon components such as detonators, and Los Alamos.
—Abe Streep, The New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2024
In a statement published by NBC News, Gaza's Health Ministry said: The operating and surgical departments, laboratory, maintenance, and emergency units have been completely burned, and the fire is now spreading to the buildings.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for laboratory 
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.
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2024
However, these record-breaking cells are currently made in laboratories and are smaller than a postage stamp.
—Rob Reddick, WIRED, 31 Dec. 2024
The federal government spends about as much money on just two laboratories: Sandia, in Albuquerque, which designs weapon components such as detonators, and Los Alamos.
—Abe Streep, The New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2024
In a statement published by NBC News, Gaza's Health Ministry said: The operating and surgical departments, laboratory, maintenance, and emergency units have been completely burned, and the fire is now spreading to the buildings.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for laboratory
Dictionary Entries Near laboratory
Cite this Entry
“Laboratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laboratory. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
laboratory
noun
lab·o·ra·to·ry
ˈlab-(ə-)rə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
-ˌtȯr-
plural laboratories
: a place equipped for making scientific experiments and tests
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share