Ex‐per″i‐ment (ĕks‐pĕr″ĭ‐ment), n. [L. experimentum, fr. experiri to try: cf. OF. esperiment, experiment. See Experience.] 1. A trial or special observation, made to confirm or disprove something doubtful; esp., one under conditions determined by the experimenter; an act or operation undertaken in order to discover some unknown principle or effect, or to test, establish, or illustrate some suggested or known truth; practical test; proof.
A political experiment can not be made in a laboratory, nor determined in a few hours. J. Adams.
2. Experience.
Adam, by sad experiment I know
How little weight my words with thee can find. Milton.