empiricism

[ em-pir-uh-siz-uh m ]
/ ɛmˈpɪr əˌsɪz əm /

noun

empirical method or practice.
Philosophy. the doctrine that all knowledge is derived from sense experience. Compare rationalism(def 2).
undue reliance upon experience, as in medicine; quackery.
an empirical conclusion.

Origin of empiricism

First recorded in 1650–60; empiric + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM empiricism

Words nearby empiricism

empire-builder, empiric, empiric risk, empirical, empirical formula, empiricism, empirin, empirism, emplace, emplacement, emplane

Example sentences from the Web for empiricist

British Dictionary definitions for empiricist

empiricism
/ (ɛmˈpɪrɪˌsɪzəm) /

noun

philosophy the doctrine that all knowledge of matters of fact derives from experience and that the mind is not furnished with a set of concepts in advance of experience Compare intuitionism, rationalism
the use of empirical methods
medical quackery; charlatanism

Derived forms of empiricism

empiricist, noun, adjective

Medical definitions for empiricist

empiricism
[ ĕm-pîr′ĭ-sĭz′əm ]

n.

Employment of empirical methods, as in science.
The practice of medicine that disregards scientific theory and relies solely on practical experience.

Other words from empiricism

em•pir′i•cist n.