Experiment: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to a scientific procedure to discover or verify something.

• We conducted an experiment to test the effects of the new drug
• The science fair featured experiments by high school students

Often used when assessing or testing something new, usually over a period of time, or in legal contexts.

• The new medication is currently in clinical trials
• He had to go through a trial to prove his innocence in court

Commonly used to check knowledge, abilities, qualities, or the functionality of something.

• The students are preparing for their math test
• We ran several tests on the software to ensure it works correctly

Used when trying to find out detailed information about something or to solve a mystery, often used in police or journalistic contexts.

• The police launched an investigation into the robbery
• The journalist started an investigation to uncover the truth about the company's practices

Appropriate for scientific or methodical investigation to discover something new or to compare different outcomes under controlled conditions.

• The scientists conducted an experiment to test the effects of the new drug on patients
• In our project, we will experiment with different materials to see which is the most durable

Often used in everyday scenarios to suggest using or doing something to see if it is effective or enjoyable, usually informally.

• I want to try out this new recipe for dinner tonight
• She decided to try out for the school's soccer team to see if she would make the cut

Used when investigating or discovering something new in a broad or detailed manner, often without a specific hypothesis.

• The students were excited to explore the forest and discover different plant species
• She loves to explore new ideas in her creative writing class

Used to assess the performance, quality, or reliability of something, usually in a specific and controlled way.

• They will test the new software to ensure there are no bugs
• The teacher will test the students' knowledge on the subject next week