English Explanatory Dictionary

empirical

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Pertaining to or based on experience, as opposed to theory.
  2. Pertaining to, derived from, or testable by observations made using the physical senses or using instruments which extend the senses.
  3. Verifiable by means of scientific experimentation.
noun
  1. A measurement or result achieved by empirical means.

Pronunciation

/ɪmˈpɪɹɪkəl/ /ɛmˈpɪɹɪkəl/ en-us-empirical.ogg

Word forms

empirical more empirical most empirical empiricals

Etymology

From empiric + -al.

Synonyms

empiric

Antonyms

nonempirical theoretical anecdotal

Related words

empiricism empiricist empirical evidence anecdotal evidence trial and error empyrical

Derived words

antiempirical empirical data empirical ego empirical formula empiricalize empirically empiricalness empirical research empirical rule equiempirical hyperempirical nonempirical non-empirical ego psychoempirical semiempirical superempirical ultraempirical unempirical
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