observational

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This research is observational, which means it cannot prove cause and effect.

From Science Daily • Apr. 27, 2026

"The Earth’s energy imbalance has increased since its observational record began in 1960, particularly in the past 20 years. It reached a new high in 2025."

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

He added while police officers had "observational views" based on their lines of inquiry, they "simply don't have the expertise" of psychiatrists.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

After the year-long observational study, researchers say regulators should act now to ensure products marketed to under-fives offer "psychological safety".

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Primitive man, in noticing the relatively few natural coincidences in his environment, slowly developed the raw observational data out of which science evolved.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos