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
adverb also -ˌspir-
Synonyms
- developmental
- pilot
- trial
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The fuel is being used on an experimental basis. an experimental procedure for patients suffering from leukemia
Recent Examples on the Web In 2022, legislators introduced 16 new bills that would force health care workers to tell patients about this experimental treatment. 
WIRED, 6 Sep. 2022 The experimental treatment will hopefully help treat end-stage liver disease and reduce liver transplants. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 1 Sep. 2022 The parents pushed for their son to undergo experimental treatment before a court sided with doctors, who argued for ending life support. Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 7 Aug. 2022 An experimental antibody treatment prevented malaria in the majority of participants in a small but important new study, providing a measure of hope in the effort to lower the burden of the disease worldwide. Elissa Welle, STAT, 7 Aug. 2022 After a trip to Walter Reed by helicopter, Trump was given a steroid in addition to a course of remdesivir and a high-dose injection of the monoclonal antibody cocktail, the latter an experimental treatment at the time. Monique Brouillette, Scientific American, 22 July 2022 The experimental treatment for mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms is available for people 12 and older who are at high risk of severe illness. Essence, 21 July 2022 After being diagnosed with COVID-19 at the White House, Trump was given an experimental antibody treatment and steroids after his blood oxygen levels fell dangerously low. Zeke Miller And Chris Megerian, Hartford Courant, 21 July 2022 After being diagnosed with COVID-19 at the White House, Trump was given an experimental antibody treatment and steroids after his blood oxygen levels fell dangerously low. Zeke Miller And Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2022 See More
WIRED, 6 Sep. 2022 The experimental treatment will hopefully help treat end-stage liver disease and reduce liver transplants. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 1 Sep. 2022 The parents pushed for their son to undergo experimental treatment before a court sided with doctors, who argued for ending life support. Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 7 Aug. 2022 An experimental antibody treatment prevented malaria in the majority of participants in a small but important new study, providing a measure of hope in the effort to lower the burden of the disease worldwide. Elissa Welle, STAT, 7 Aug. 2022 After a trip to Walter Reed by helicopter, Trump was given a steroid in addition to a course of remdesivir and a high-dose injection of the monoclonal antibody cocktail, the latter an experimental treatment at the time. Monique Brouillette, Scientific American, 22 July 2022 The experimental treatment for mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms is available for people 12 and older who are at high risk of severe illness. Essence, 21 July 2022 After being diagnosed with COVID-19 at the White House, Trump was given an experimental antibody treatment and steroids after his blood oxygen levels fell dangerously low. Zeke Miller And Chris Megerian, Hartford Courant, 21 July 2022 After being diagnosed with COVID-19 at the White House, Trump was given an experimental antibody treatment and steroids after his blood oxygen levels fell dangerously low. Zeke Miller And Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
experimental
adjective
ex·per·i·men·tal ik-ˌsper-ə-ˈmen-tᵊl
: relating to, based on, or used for experiment
He's trying an experimental treatment for the disease.
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
B. F. Skinner3
of a disease : intentionally produced especially in laboratory animals for the purpose of study
experimental diabetes
experimental
adjective
1
as in developmental
made or done as an experiment an experimental procedure for patients suffering from leukemia Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- developmental
- investigative
- trial
- pilot
- preliminary
- exploratory
- speculative
- theoretical
- hypothetical
- preparatory
- theoretic
- temporary
- tentative
- conjectural
- provisional
- untested
- probative
- untried
- unproven
- unproved
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- standard
- advanced
- established
- accepted
- tested
- developed
- final
- permanent
- definitive
- conclusive
- decisive
- proved
- tried
- proven
2
as in empirical
based on observation or experience asserted that experimental knowledge is vastly superior to idle speculation and theorizing Synonyms & Similar Words
- empirical
- empiric
- observational
- objective
- experiential
- existential
- actual
- material
- factual
- real
- established
- genuine
- accepted
- tried
- indisputable
- demonstrable
- tried-and-true
- verifiable
- hard
- undeniable
- provable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- theoretical
- theoretic
- speculative
- hypothetical
- conjectural
- unproven
- nonempirical
- metaphysical
- unempirical
- unsubstantiated
- visionary
- transcendentalist