empirical meaning and definition

EMPIRICAL adjective

Definition of empirical (adjective)

1. derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
   • "an empirical basis for an ethical theory"; "empirical laws"; "empirical data"; "an empirical treatment of a disease about which little is known"
   • synonyms: empiric
   • antonym: theoretic
2. relying on medical quackery
   • "empiric treatment"
   • synonyms: empiric