empiricist

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a philosopher or thinker who holds that knowledge comes chiefly from experience and observation

   The empiricist demanded observational evidence rather than an appeal to innate ideas.

2. 2
   adj

   supporting or characteristic of empiricism

   The study takes an empiricist approach and tests every claim against observation.

From empiric + -ist. Empiric comes through Latin empiricus from Greek empeirikos ("experienced"), based on empeiria ("experience"). The word names an adherent of empiricism or describes an approach grounded in that doctrine.

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