Empiricism
noun /ɛmˈpɪrɪsɪz(ə)m/ — The conviction that knowledge must be earned through experience, not assumed.
Definition
The theory that all knowledge derives from sense experience and observation; the view that evidence, not prior assumption, must be the foundation of belief.
Beyond the definition
Empiricism is the philosophical backbone of science — the insistence that what we believe must answer to what we observe, not the other way around. It sounds obvious until you encounter how many beliefs resist being tested. The empiricist demand — show me the evidence — is more radical than it sounds.
Origin & history
From Greek empeirikos — 'experienced', from empeiria 'experience'. The Greek physicians called themselves empirics because they based treatment on observation rather than theory. The philosophical sense was formalized by Locke, Hume, and Berkeley.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her empiricism made her skeptical of any conclusion that hadn't been tested.
The empiricism of the scientific method is its most valuable feature — and its most demanding.
Good policy should be empirical, not ideological — built on what works, not what should work.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Empiricism” when the meaning fits your context: The theory that all knowledge derives from sense experience and observation; the view that evidence, not prior assumption, must be the foundation of belief.
Synonyms
experientialism, observation-based reasoning, experimentalism
Antonyms
rationalism, idealism, dogmatism, apriorism
Related words
Empiricism vs rationalism
Empiricism argues that knowledge is primarily derived from sensory experience. Rationalism posits that knowledge is primarily derived from logic, innate ideas, and reason.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Knowledge from Physical Evidence
A desk contains layered sedimentary rocks, fossils, and crystals, all arranged for study alongside a magnifying glass for observation.
The collection of physical specimens and tools for inspection illustrates empiricism, where knowledge is built strictly from direct, observable experience. It emphasizes that belief should be grounded in the study of material structures themselves.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Empiricism" mean?
Empiricism is noun meaning: The conviction that knowledge must be earned through experience, not assumed.. The theory that all knowledge derives from sense experience and observation; the view that evidence, not prior assumption, must be the foundation of belief.
Where does the word "Empiricism" come from?
From Greek empeirikos — 'experienced', from empeiria 'experience'. The Greek physicians called themselves empirics because they based treatment on observation rather than theory. The philosophical sense was formalized by Locke, Hume, and Berkeley.