What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
empirically
Example
The results were obtained empirically through careful observation and measurement. [empirically: adverb]
Example
The study was conducted empirically, with researchers collecting data through surveys and interviews. [empirically: adverb]
experimentally
Example
The drug was tested experimentally on animals before being approved for human use. [experimentally: adverb]
Example
The researchers conducted the experimentally designed study to test their hypothesis. [experimentally: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Empirically is more commonly used than experimentally in social sciences and humanities, but experimentally is more commonly used in natural sciences and engineering.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between empirically and experimentally?
Both empirically and experimentally are formal words that are commonly used in academic writing and research papers.
