English Reference
Adjective

observational

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌɑbzɝˈveɪʃənəɫ/ UK /ɒbzəvˈeɪʃənəl/ ob·ser·va·tion·al

adj.relating to the act of watching something carefully to learn about it. You use this to describe work or skills that rely on seeing things as they really are.

adj.relating to or based on the act of watching and recording phenomena as they occur in their natural state. Often describes research methods that do not involve experimental manipulation.


SIMPLE

She has excellent observational skills and notices every small detail.

CONTEXTUAL

The scientists conducted an observational study to see how the birds behaved in the wild without human interference.

COMPLEX

The comedian's set relied heavily on observational humor, drawing sharp and relatable insights from the mundane frustrations of modern office life and public transportation.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun, such as 'study', 'skills', or 'humor'.

Usage observational data

Instead, their unusual appearance could partly result from observational bias.

ScienceDaily· 17 Aug 2026

In April of this year, however, a team of researchers from the University of Bordeaux in France published improved predictions in the journal Science Advances , based on new observational data.

Phys.org· 14 Aug 2026

Common in science writing

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated