different between empirical vs observationalist

English

Etymology

From empiric +? -al.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?p???k?l/

Adjective

empirical (comparative more empirical, superlative most empirical)

1. Pertaining to or based on experience (often, in contrast with having a basis in theoretical explanation).

   Antonym: theoretical

   • H. Spencer

     The village carpenter […] lays out his work by empirical rules learnt in his apprenticeship.

2. Pertaining to, derived from, or testable by observations made using the physical senses or using instruments which extend the senses.
3. (philosophy of science) Verifiable by means of scientific experimentation.

   Antonyms: anecdotal, theoretical

Synonyms

• empiric

Antonyms

• nonempirical

Coordinate terms

• conceptual
• theoretical
• anecdotal

Derived terms

Related terms

• empiricism
• empiricist

Translations

See also

• empirical evidence
• anecdotal evidence
• trial and error
• empyrical

Further reading

• empirical in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• empirical in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• empirical at OneLook Dictionary Search
• "empirical" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 115.

English

Etymology

observational +? -ist

Noun

observationalist (plural observationalists)

1. One who relies on empirical observations.