adj · academic
empirical
UK/ɪmˈpɪrɪkəl/US/ɛmˈpɪrɪkəl/em·PIR·i·cal
based on observed evidence or experiments rather than theory
Examples
“Researchers gathered empirical data from lab experiments to test the theory.”
“We need empirical evidence before we can accept this claim.”
“In my study I used empirical methods such as surveys and measurements.”
Band 8 sentence
“The paper's conclusions are convincing largely because they rest on rigorous empirical analysis rather than speculative argument.”
Collocations
- empirical evidence
- empirical study/research
- empirical data
Word family
Common mistakes
use ‘empirical’ like ‘practical’→use ‘empirical’ to mean based on observation/data
empirical evidences→empirical evidence
an empirical study→an empirical study
Say it for a higher band
5observational→6data‑based→7+empirical
Synonyms
observational
experimental
Easily confused
experimental
“The study used experimental methods to isolate the variable.”
Related words
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In Sublist 6
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