ENGLISH
REFERENCE

anecdotal

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌænəkˈdoʊtəɫ// UK //ˈænɪkdˌəʊtəl// anec·do·tal

adj. describing information based on personal stories rather than facts or careful study. You use this when someone's evidence comes from what they saw or heard, not from scientific data.

adj. based on personal accounts or individual observations rather than systematic research or rigorous data analysis. Often used to qualify evidence that may be unreliable or unrepresentative of a broader trend.


SIMPLE

The evidence for this new diet is mostly anecdotal.

CONTEXTUAL

While there is anecdotal evidence that the herb helps with sleep, no clinical trials have confirmed these claims.

COMPLEX

Scientists often dismiss anecdotal reports of rare phenomena until a sufficient number of documented cases allows for a formal statistical investigation into the underlying cause.

Synonyms
Origin

From anecdote + -al.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun like 'evidence', 'reports', or 'accounts'.

Pitfall

anecdotal of evidenceanecdotal evidenceAnecdotal is an adjective and should modify the noun directly without a preposition.

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