comparative trial

noun

UK /kəmˈpærətɪv ˈtraɪəl/

US /kəmˈpærətɪv ˈtraɪəl/

A comparative trial is a test that compares two or more things to see which one works better.

The doctors ran a comparative trial to see which medicine helped people feel better faster.

SYNONYMS

comparison test head-to-head study side-by-side test contrast study comparison experiment

RELATED WORDS

experiment study research evaluation test

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A legal process in which two sides present their cases and a judge or jury compares the evidence.

The comparative trial let both lawyers show their evidence before the judge decided.

3. A school exercise where students compare two works, such as books or essays, in detail.

Her comparative trial of the two poems earned high marks from the teacher.

4. A scientific study that tests a new treatment against a standard one to measure differences.

The comparative trial showed the new vaccine worked as well as the old one.