trial and error
noun
: a finding out of the best way to reach a desired result or a correct solution by trying out one or more ways or means and by noting and eliminating errors or causes of failure
also
: the trying of one thing or another until something succeeds
Examples of trial and error in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
My organization credentials are well-earned after much trial and error.
—
Lauren Arzbaecher, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2026
Know Care Needs Gardening is a balance of curiosity, practice, and trial and error.
—Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 24 Apr. 2026
Rather than learning purely from real-world trial and error, these systems absorb the rules of physics through simulation, practicing in digital environments where failure is cheap and fast.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
But to become Nike, there were years' worth of trial and error.
—Hannarose McGuinness, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trial and error
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Lauren Arzbaecher, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2026
Know Care Needs Gardening is a balance of curiosity, practice, and trial and error.
—Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 24 Apr. 2026
Rather than learning purely from real-world trial and error, these systems absorb the rules of physics through simulation, practicing in digital environments where failure is cheap and fast.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
But to become Nike, there were years' worth of trial and error.
—Hannarose McGuinness, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trial and error
Cite this Entry
“Trial and error.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trial%20and%20error. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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