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.

These studies were observational, which differs from research done on drugs to study intended effects.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

To explore the connection, researchers carried out a prospective observational study at Fayoum University Hospital in Egypt between September 2024 and April 2025.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2026

Because the study was observational, it cannot prove cause and effect.

From Science Daily • May 1, 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

They unflinchingly respected the accuracy of observational data, and their predictions of the motion of the planets to high precision provided compelling evidence that, at an unexpectedly deep level, humans can understand the Cosmos.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan