Wizard of Oz experiment

noun

In the field of human-computer interaction, a research experiment in which subjects interact with a computer system that they believe to be autonomous, but which is actually being operated by an unseen human being.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounWizard of Oz experiment (plural Wizard of Oz experiments)

plural Wizard of Oz experiments

  1. In the field of human-computer interaction, a research experiment in which subjects interact with a computer system that they believe to be autonomous, but which is actually being operated by an unseen human being.

Origin

Referring to a scene in which the Wizard of Oz hides behind a curtain to project an intimidating shadow image.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Wizard of Oz experiment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Wizard%20of%20Oz%20experiment

MLA

“Wizard of Oz experiment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Wizard%20of%20Oz%20experiment. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Wizard of Oz experiment,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Wizard%20of%20Oz%20experiment.

Source: Wizard of Oz experiment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.