What does experiment mean?
An experiment is a carefully planned test or procedure carried out to answer a question, verify a hypothesis, or observe something previously unknown. In science, experiments are the foundation of knowledge: by controlling variables and comparing outcomes, researchers isolate causes from coincidences. The word extends naturally beyond the laboratory — a business might launch a product as an experiment, or someone might experiment with a bold haircut — always implying a willingness to try without certainty about the result. Used as a noun, it names both rigorous procedures and casual trials; used as a verb, it suggests curiosity and openness to change rather than recklessness. Derived from the Latin experiri, meaning to try or test, the word shares roots with 'experience' and 'expert.' Its enduring value lies in its core idea: genuine understanding comes not from assuming but from testing ideas against reality.
A scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact.
"The chemistry class conducted an experiment to measure reaction rates."
Also applied more loosely to any trial of an idea or policy whose outcome is uncertain.
To perform a scientific procedure to test something; or, more generally, to try out new ideas, methods, or activities to see what happens.
"She experimented with watercolors before settling on oil paints."
Standard pluralization for the noun; commonly used when referring to multiple trials or studies collectively.
"The paper summarized the results of three independent experiments."
The word 'experiment' comes from Latin experiri, 'to try' — the same root that gives us 'expert,' because an expert is simply someone who has tried enough things.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of experiment
The word 'experiment' derives from the Latin verb experiri, meaning 'to try, test, or put to proof,' through its present participle stem experimentum, denoting a trial or proof. It entered English via Old French around the late Middle Ages, initially carrying broad senses of observation and practical knowledge before narrowing toward its modern scientific meaning during the early modern period, as empirical method took hold. The same Latin root underlies 'experience' and 'expert,' reflecting a shared heritage of learning through trial.
Related word forms
How experiment is actually used
As a noun, 'experiment' is standard in both formal scientific writing and everyday speech; it can also refer to a non-scientific trial ('the new policy was an experiment'). The verb form is common in informal and technical contexts alike, often followed by 'with' when trying things out casually ('experimenting with a new hairstyle').
Easily confused with experiment
'Experiment' refers to a single test or trial, while 'experimentation' is the broader ongoing activity or process of experimenting.