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What is the difference between theoretical and empirical?

theoretical | empirical |

Empirical is a coordinate term of theoretical.



As adjectives the difference between theoretical and empirical

is that theoretical is of or relating to theory; abstract; not empirical while empirical is pertaining to or based on experience.

theoretical

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or relating to theory; abstract; not empirical.

    • Derived terms

    * intertheoretical * intratheoretical * nontheoretical

    Coordinate terms

    * practical

    empirical

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Pertaining to or based on experience.
  • * H. Spencer
    • The village carpenter lays out his work by empirical rules learnt in his apprenticeship.
  • Pertaining to, derived from, or testable by observations made using the physical senses or using instruments which extend the senses.
  • (philosophy of science) Verifiable by means of scientific experimentation.

    • Synonyms

    * empiric

    Antonyms

    * nonempirical

    Coordinate terms

    * conceptual * theoretical * anecdotal

    Derived terms

    * empirically

    Related terms

    * empiricism * empiricist

    See also

    * anecdotal evidence * trial and error

    External links

    * * *