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experimental

Etymology and origin of the English word experimental

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1449
Borrowed from
Latin experimentalis
Ultimate origin
Latin (experior)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɪkspɛɹəˈmɛntəl/, /ɪkˌspɛɹəˈmɛntəl/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Medieval Latin experimentalis,[2][3][4] from experimentum (“a trial, test”) (see experiment) and -alis,[2][3] from experīrī (“to try”);[5] Etymonline treats it as formed from experiment and -al.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Having experience, and of things, coming within experience, observed: about 1449 in the OED,[6] the mid-15th century in Etymonline,[5] late 15th century in SOED and NODE; these senses are obsolete.[3][4]

Semantic evolution

Founded on experience only, empirical, is from 1526.[6] Experimental religion, the practical experience of religion's influence on the soul, is from 1614.[6] Based on or found by experiment is from 1570, the 1560s in Etymonline,[6][5] and done for the sake of experiment, provisional or tentative, from 1792.[5] An experimental artist is one given to trying new forms.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 1449 – having experience; observed.[6]
  • 1526 – empirical.[6]
  • 1570 – based on experiment.[6][5]
  • 1614 – experimental religion.[6]
  • 1792 – for the sake of experiment.[5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Relating to or based on experiments.
  2. Being tried out; tentative or new and untested.
  3. Innovative and willing to try new methods, as in art.
  4. Based on experience; empirical.

Word family

  • experimentally
  • experimentalism
  • experimentalist
  • nonexperimental
  • postexperimental
  • preexperimental
  • unexperimental

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  3. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Experimental.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/experimental. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·