experimentation
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of doing scientific tests to learn more about how something works.
the practice of conducting controlled tests or observations to validate a hypothesis or investigate causal relationships.
Simple“The new drug is still in the stage of animal experimentation.”
In context“Rigorous experimentation is required to ensure that the results are not merely the product of environmental variables or statistical noise.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general practice of science.
Teacher's tipIn academic contexts, emphasize that this implies a structured method rather than just 'trying things out'.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
trying different methods, styles, or ideas to see which one you like best.
the act of trying out new concepts, techniques, or artistic styles to achieve a novel result.
Simple“After some experimentation in the kitchen, he finally found the perfect recipe for spicy bread.”
In context“The director's early work was marked by bold experimentation with non-linear storytelling and unconventional camera angles.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is common in arts, cooking, and business to describe a creative or flexible approach.
Synonyms
“Blended Finance Canada will combine research with real-world experimentation to understand why climate, social-impact and community-led projects struggle to access capital and what financial approaches can help overcome those barriers.”
“He brightens, recalling the “open, relaxed” experimentation of the trio’s thickly groove-driven 1982 Full Circle album.”
From Latin ex- + -periri (akin to periculum), "attempt". Morphologically experiment + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.