# experimental

/ɪkˌspɛɹɪˈmɛntəɫ/ (US) · /ɛkspˌɛɹɪmˈɛntəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/experimental
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. scientific testing

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

relating to scientific tests or based on doing experiments.

For teachers: pertaining to, derived from, or founded on the use of controlled experiments to test a hypothesis.

- The scientists are still in the experimental stage of the new drug trial.
- The researchers published their experimental findings in a peer-reviewed journal, detailing the rigorous controls used during the double-blind study.

Usage: Often used to modify nouns like 'data', 'results', or 'phase'.

### 2. new and untried

adjective · CEFR B2

using new methods or ideas that have not been proven yet.

For teachers: serving as a trial or tentative procedure; not yet established or finalised.

- The school is trying an experimental teaching method this year.
- The government launched an experimental universal basic income programme in three small municipalities to observe its impact on local employment rates.

### 3. art and music

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

using very new or strange ideas in art, music, or writing.

For teachers: referring to avant-garde or innovative techniques that depart from traditional forms.

- I found the experimental jazz concert a bit difficult to listen to.
- The gallery specialises in experimental digital art that challenges the viewer's perception of physical space and time.

### 4. test subject

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a person or thing that is being used in a scientific test.

For teachers: the subject or entity undergoing an experiment.

- The researcher monitored each experimental throughout the six-week study.
- Ethical guidelines require that every experimental be fully informed of the potential risks before the clinical trial commences.

Usage: This noun use is rare outside of specific technical or academic contexts; 'subject' is more common.

## Examples

- The band is known for their experimental music style.
- The hospital is offering an experimental treatment for patients who have not responded to standard medicine.
- While the initial results of the experimental fusion reactor are promising, engineers caution that commercial viability remains decades away due to significant containment challenges.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.