Is empirical formal or informal?

What's the difference between empirical and theoretical?

How do I use empirical in a sentence?

Is empirical common in academic writing?

← Dictionary

empirical

/ɪmˈpɪr.ɪ.kəl/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Based on observation or experiment rather than theory.

We use empirical data to test the theory.
The results are based on empirical research.

Adinary Nuance

Near-neighbors: Unlike theoretical (purely abstract), empirical means grounded in real observation. It is stronger than experimental in everyday use and suits evidence-based reports. Choose empirical when you refer to data from experience, not from hypothesis.

In other languages

Spanish: Empírico
Japanese: 経験的
Korean: 경험적
Vietnamese: Kinh nghiệm
Chinese: 经验的

Common phrases

empirical evidenceempirical databased on empiricalempirical findings

Synonyms

experiment-based observational data-driven factual verifiable

Frequently asked questions

Is empirical formal or informal?: Is empirical formal or informal?
What's the difference between empirical and theoretical?: What's the difference between empirical and theoretical?
How do I use empirical in a sentence?: How do I use empirical in a sentence?
Is empirical common in academic writing?: Is empirical common in academic writing?