anecdotal Definition
- 1based on personal accounts or stories rather than on reliable research or statistics
- 2containing anecdotes or relating to anecdotes
Using anecdotal: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "anecdotal" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The evidence is only anecdotal and cannot be considered reliable.
Example
The article was filled with anecdotal stories about the author's experiences.
Example
The study lacked empirical data and relied solely on anecdotal evidence.
anecdotal Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for anecdotal
Phrases with anecdotal
a written account of a student's behavior or performance based on observations and incidents
Example
The teacher kept an anecdotal record of each student's progress throughout the year.
evidence based on personal accounts or stories rather than on reliable research or statistics
Example
The argument was based solely on anecdotal evidence and lacked any scientific support.
a history that relies on personal accounts and stories rather than on official records or documents
Example
The book provided an interesting anecdotal history of the town's founding and early years.
Origins of anecdotal
from French 'anecdotique', from 'anecdote'
Summary: anecdotal in Brief
'Anecdotal' [ˌænɪkˈdəʊtl] describes something that is based on personal accounts or stories rather than on reliable research or statistics. It can also refer to something containing anecdotes or relating to anecdotes. The term is often used in a negative sense, implying that the information is unreliable or unproven. Examples of usage include 'The evidence is only anecdotal and cannot be considered reliable.' and 'The study lacked empirical data and relied solely on anecdotal evidence.'