empirically

E1M3P3I1R1I1C3A1L1L1Y4

adverb

Based on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge.

“I have no idea why this works, but empirically, it works.”

Similar
through empirical observationby trial and error
Opposite
nonempiricallyunempiricallytheoretically
OriginProto-Germanic *līką ← Proto-Indo-European *leyg- ← English empirical →
Less commonScrabble 20
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Meanings

adverbempirically (comparative more empirically, superlative most empirically)

comparative more empirically · superlative most empirically

  1. Based on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge.

    I have no idea why this works, but empirically, it works.

    Antonyms: nonempirically, unempirically

  2. sciencesBased on data and evidence gathered in the real world.

    We need to test this idea empirically instead of just speculating about it.

    Antonyms: nonempirically, unempirically

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbBased on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge.

Opposite
nonempiricallyunempirically

adverbBased on data and evidence gathered in the real world.

Opposite
nonempiricallyunempirically

More synonyms by meaning

adverbin an empirical manner

Similar
through empirical observationby trial and error
Opposite
theoretically

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁én
  2. Ancient Greekἐν (en)
  3. Ancient Greekἐν- (en-)
  4. Proto-Indo-European*per-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*périh₂
  6. Proto-Hellenic*péřřa
  7. Ancient Greekπεῖρα (peîra)
  8. Ancient Greekἔμπειρος (émpeiros)
  9. Ancient Greekἐμπειρία (empeiría)
  10. Ancient Greekἐμπειρῐκός (empeirĭkós)
  11. Latinempīricu
  12. Englishempiric
  13. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  14. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  15. Englishempirical
  16. Proto-Indo-European*leyg-
  17. Proto-Germanic*līką
  18. Englishempirically

From empirical + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ἐμπειρῐκῶς
  • ἐμπειρῐκῶς (empeirĭkôs)based on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge
Catalan empíricament
  • empíricamentbased on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge
Greek εμπειρικά
  • εμπειρικά (empeiriká)based on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge
Italian empiricamente
  • empiricamentebased on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge
Korean 경험적으로, 실험적으로
  • 경험적으로 (gyeongheomjeogeuro)based on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge
  • 실험적으로 (silheomjeogeuro)based on data gathered in the real world
Polish aposteriorycznie, empirycznie
  • aposterioryczniebased on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge
  • empiryczniebased on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge
Portuguese empiricamente
  • empiricamentebased on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge
Spanish empíricamente
  • empíricamentebased on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge
Cite this entry
APA

empirically. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/empirically

MLA

“empirically.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/empirically. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “empirically,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/empirically.

Source: empirically on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.