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
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
Taara is the latest project to spring from X—Alphabet’s experimental hub that produced AI lab Google Brain and Waymo’s self-driving cars—and has its origins in a concept called Loon.
—
Michael Teo Van Runkle, Ars Technica, 17 Mar. 2025
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who piloted Boeing's experimental Starliner spacecraft in June 2024, were supposed to be away from Earth for about eight days.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Boeing's experimental Starliner spacecraft launched on June 5 with Williams and Wilmore on board.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 16 Mar. 2025
Last year, the NHC started issuing an experimental cone map that included inland hazards, such as hurricane warnings well up into Georgia for Hurricane Helene.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for experimental
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Michael Teo Van Runkle, Ars Technica, 17 Mar. 2025
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who piloted Boeing's experimental Starliner spacecraft in June 2024, were supposed to be away from Earth for about eight days.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Boeing's experimental Starliner spacecraft launched on June 5 with Williams and Wilmore on board.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 16 Mar. 2025
Last year, the NHC started issuing an experimental cone map that included inland hazards, such as hurricane warnings well up into Georgia for Hurricane Helene.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for experimental
Cite this Entry
“Experimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/experimental. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
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