English Online Dictionary. What means empirical? What does empirical mean?
English
Etymology
From empiric + -al.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɪmˈpɪɹɪkəl/
- Hyphenation: em‧pi‧ri‧cal
Adjective
empirical (comparative more empirical, superlative most empirical)
- Pertaining to or based on experience (often, in contrast with having a basis in theoretical explanation).
- Antonym: theoretical
- Pertaining to, derived from, or testable by observations made using the physical senses or using instruments which extend the senses.
- (philosophy of science) Verifiable by means of scientific experimentation.
- Antonyms: anecdotal, theoretical
Synonyms
- empiric
Antonyms
- nonempirical
Coordinate terms
- conceptual
- theoretical
- anecdotal
Derived terms
Related terms
- empiricism
- empiricist
Translations
See also
- empirical evidence
- anecdotal evidence
- trial and error
- empyrical
Further reading
- “empirical”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “empirical”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “empirical”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- "empirical" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 115.