trial and error
noun
experimentation or investigation in which various methods or means are tried and faulty ones eliminated in order to find the correct solution or to achieve the desired result or effect.
Origin of trial and error
First recorded in 1800–10
OTHER WORDS FROM trial and error
tri·al-and-er·ror, adjectiveWords nearby trial and error
triad,
triad syndrome,
triadelphous,
triage,
trial,
trial and error,
trial balance,
trial balloon,
trial by battle,
trial by fire,
trial court
Example sentences from the Web for trial and error
British Dictionary definitions for trial and error
trial and error
noun
a method of discovery, solving problems, etc, based on practical experiment and experience rather than on theory
he learned to cook by trial and error
Cultural definitions for trial and error
trial and error
To “proceed by trial and error” is to experiment, rejecting what does not work and adopting what does.
Idioms and Phrases with trial and error
trial and error
An attempt to accomplish something by trying various means until the correct one is found. for example, The only way to solve this problem is by trial and error. The error here alludes to the failed means or attempts, which are discarded until the right way is found. [c. 1800]