EMPIRIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does empiric mean? 

• EMPIRIC (adjective)
  The adjective EMPIRIC has 2 senses:

1. relying on medical quackery

2. derived from experiment and observation rather than theory

  Familiarity information: EMPIRIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EMPIRIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relying on medical quackery

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

empiric; empirical

Context example:

empiric treatment

Domain usage:

archaicism; archaism (the use of an archaic expression)

Pertainym:

quackery (medical practice and advice based on observation and experience in ignorance of scientific findings)

Derivation:

empiricism (medical practice and advice based on observation and experience in ignorance of scientific findings)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Derived from experiment and observation rather than theory

Synonyms:

empiric; empirical

Context example:

an empirical treatment of a disease about which little is known

Similar:

a posteriori (requiring evidence for validation or support)

confirmable; falsifiable; verifiable (capable of being tested (verified or falsified) by experiment or observation)

existential; experiential (derived from experience or the experience of existence)

data-based; experimental; observational (relying on observation or experiment)

experimental (of the nature of or undergoing an experiment)

semiempirical (relying to some extent on observation or experiment)

trial-and-error (trying out various means or theories until error is satisfactorily reduced or eliminated)

Derivation:

empiricism (the application of empirical methods in any art or science)

 Context examples 

There is this peculiarity in criminals. It is so constant, in all countries and at all times, that even police, who know not much from philosophy, come to know it empirically, that it is. That is to be empiric.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)