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Glite Dictionary
trial-and-error

trial-and-error

2 4.1
Solving a problem by trying different ways and learning from mistakes until you succeed
  • adjective
  • /ˈtraɪəl ənd ˈɛrər/
translation icon : prueba y error
  • Many teachers use a trial-and-error approach, but some of the most productive teachers use effective strategies for choosing good activities.
  • trial-and-error approach
  • trial-and-error process
  • trial-and-error learning

Examples

  • In many cases, engineers must use a trial-and-error method to calibrate the right analog circuit design.

    Blog text (16)

  • Next, the designer adjusts the initial trial solution and repeats the simulation check, thus embarking on the classic trial-and-error simulation approach.

    Academic text (1997)

  • But these have been largely trial-and-error methods.

    Academic text (2011)

  • But even now, many engineers still follow a manual trial-and-error approach.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Achieving high reliability involves using trial-and-error testing.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The result is trial-and-error learning that leads to frustration, failure, and underachievement.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Hopefully, this is accomplished before the trial-and-error process exhausts the allotted study time and budget.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Consistently, participating teachers reported experimenting or, as they described it, using a trial-and-error process as the primary avenue for adapting activities, equipment, and the environment.

    Academic text (2012)

  • While some answers were clear from the outset of implementation, others were deduced after a long (and sometimes painful) trial-and-error approach.

    Academic text (2013)

  • In learning to play the guitar, I adopted a trial-and-error method to find the right chords.

Antonyms

certainty
  • Literature
202 3.4

A strong feeling that something is true or will happen

How Systematic

scientific
976 3.7
systematic
66 4.6
methodical
35 4.1
trial-and-error
2 4.1
ad hoc
9 7.0
random
527 3.4

Surface Forms

trial-and-error positive

Morphology

trial-and-error = trial + error (transparent) = trial + err + or

The phrase is a straightforward compound whose meaning is built directly from making attempts and learning from mistakes.

Etymology

The word trial-and-error comes from the two simple words trial 'a test' and error 'a mistake', and it means solving a problem by trying different things and learning from what goes wrong. Think of learning to ride a bike: you try, you fall, you learn, and try again, so a trial-and-error method finds what works by testing and fixing mistakes.