controlled experiment
nounUK /kənˈtrəʊld ɪkˈsperɪmənt/
US /kənˈtroʊld ɪkˈsperɪmənt/
A test where you change one thing and keep everything else the same.
The students did a controlled experiment to see which plant food made flowers grow fastest.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A scientific study in which the researcher adjusts one factor while holding all other conditions constant to isolate cause and effect.
The controlled experiment showed that the new medicine lowered blood pressure.
3. A comparison designed so that only the tested factor differs between groups.
In a controlled experiment, one group received the fertilizer and the other did not.
4. A classroom activity where students practice changing one variable at a time.
Our teacher set up a controlled experiment with three identical cups of water.