trial-and-error

trial and error

n. A method of reaching a correct solution or satisfactory result by trying out various means or theories until error is sufficiently reduced or eliminated.

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tri′al-and-er′ror adj.

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	trial-and-error - trying out various means or theories until error is satisfactorily reduced or eliminated; "he argued that all learning is a trial-and-error process that resembles biological evolution"empirical, empiric - derived from experiment and observation rather than theory; "an empirical basis for an ethical theory"; "empirical laws"; "empirical data"; "an empirical treatment of a disease about which little is known"
	2.	trial-and-error - relating to solving problems by experience rather than theory; "they adopted a trial-and-error procedure"heuristic - of or relating to or using a general formulation that serves to guide investigation