empiricism
the view that knowledge comes from experience and observation
Root
- empir: trial, observation, or practical knowledge
Other words with the empir root
- empirical: based on observation or evidence
Empiricism turns empirical into a stance: trust what can be observed, tested, or experienced.
The scientist's empiricism made her ask for measurements before accepting the theory.
Empiricism is the larger idea behind empirical. It values evidence from observation and experience over pure theory or inherited authority.