experiment
/ɪkˈsper.ɪ.mənt/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A test done to discover or prove something. Scientists, students, and researchers use experiments to check ideas. It often follows a plan and uses careful observation.
- The team did an experiment with different soil types.
- Her science experiment showed clear results.
verb
To do a test in order to discover or learn something. It can also mean to try a new method or idea, especially when the result is not certain.
- The doctor experimented with a new treatment.
- We experimented with the recipe last night.
Adinary Nuance
An experiment is a planned test, often in science or research. A test can be more general and everyday, like a school test or a quick check. An exploration is broader and less controlled; an experiment is usually more careful and designed to find a result.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thí nghiệm
- Spanish
- experimento
- Chinese
- 实验
- Japanese
- 実験
- Korean
- 실험
Etymology
Experiment comes from Latin experimentum, meaning “a test” or “proof.” It entered English through Old French in the late Middle Ages.
Common phrases
do an experimentconduct an experimentexperiment with somethinga science experiment
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is experiment a formal word?
- It is common in academic and scientific English. In everyday speech, people also use it for trying new things.
- What is the difference between experiment and test?
- An experiment is a planned test to learn something new. A test is broader and can mean checking, examining, or proving.
- Can I say experiment with new ideas?
- Yes. It is natural when you try a new method, style, or recipe.
- Is experiment used as a verb too?
- Yes. You can say, “We experimented with a new design.”