empirical

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌɛmˈpɪrɪkəl/ UK /ɪmˈpɪɹɪkəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #30528

Meanings

1

adj
Based on observation, experiment, or real experience rather than on theory.

There is little empirical evidence to support his claim.
2

adj
Able to be tested or proved by experiment.

Scientists prefer conclusions that rest on empirical data.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · based on observation,... empiric

Opposites

nonempirical

Word family

Derived forms antiempiricalempiricalizeempiricallyempiricalnessequiempiricalhyperempiricalnonempiricalpsychoempiricalsemiempiricalsuperempiricalultraempiricalunempirical

Related forms empiricism empiricist

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

empirical formula
a chemical formula giving the simplest ratio of elements in a compound

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From empiric + -al.

*per- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Philosophy & Reasoning Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

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Wiktionary

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