sample
/ˈsɑːm.pəl/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A small part of something used to show what the whole is like. It is often used for testing, study, or choice.
- We tested a sample of the water.
- This fabric sample feels soft.
- The doctor took a blood sample.
verb
To take or try a small amount of something, often to test it or learn about it.
- The lab will sample the soil.
- They sampled the new menu last night.
- Researchers sampled people from ten cities.
Adinary Nuance
Sample is smaller and more specific than example. A sample is a real part of something, used to test, study, or show the whole. Use example for a case that explains an idea, not a physical piece. In business and academic writing, sample often sounds more precise.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- mẫu
- Spanish
- muestra
- Chinese
- 样本
- Japanese
- サンプル
- Korean
- 표본
Etymology
From Old French essemple, from Latin exemplum, meaning “example.” The word entered English in the Middle Ages and later developed its testing and research sense.
Common phrases
sample sizesample surveysample ratefree sample
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is sample the same as example?
- Not always. A sample is a real part used for testing or showing the whole. An example explains an idea.
- Is sample formal or informal?
- It is common in both everyday and academic English. In research and business, it sounds natural and precise.
- How do I use sample in a sentence?
- You can say, “We collected a sample of soil,” or “I sampled the soup.”
- What is a sample size?
- A sample size is the number of people or items used in a study or survey.