failed experiment

USAGE SUMMARY

"failed experiment" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an experiment that did not achieve its goals. For example: "The failed experiment taught us valuable lessons about our scientific process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was a failed experiment.

The New York Times - Sports

Was it a failed experiment?

The Washington Post

Guantánamo was and is a failed experiment.

The New Yorker

Time to call this a failed experiment.

The New York Times

A failed experiment led to his discovery.

The New York Times

All the signs pointed to a failed experiment.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

That failed experiment has led to this current ecomonic catastrophe.

The Guardian - Opinion

Is the Silk Road Project repeating that failed experiment?

The New York Times - Arts

I interviewed exporters about the failed experiment with nationalization.

The New York Times - Travel

This provides a plausible explanation for Electrolux's failed experiment.

Harvard Business Review

Some researchers have argued that they're a failed experiment.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "failed experiment", be specific about what aspects of the experiment failed and why. Provide context to clarify the nature and consequences of the failure.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something was a "failed experiment" without explaining the contributing factors. Provide specific details about the process, methodology, or assumptions that led to the negative outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed experiment" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "failed" modifies the noun "experiment". It serves to categorize or describe an experiment that did not achieve its intended outcome. Ludwig confirms this usage across numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failed experiment" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to describe an experiment that did not achieve its intended outcome. Ludwig's analysis confirms its frequent use across various domains, including News & Media, Formal & Business, and Academia. When using this phrase, it's best to be specific about the reasons for the failure and to provide context to enhance clarity. While alternatives like "unsuccessful trial" or "abortive attempt" exist, "failed experiment" remains a direct and widely understood way to convey the lack of success in a particular endeavor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsuccessful trial

Replaces "experiment" with "trial", emphasizing the attempt aspect but maintaining the negative outcome.

abortive attempt

Uses "abortive" to highlight the premature ending and lack of success, offering a more formal tone.

fruitless endeavor

Emphasizes the lack of positive results or outcomes from the effort.

botched undertaking

Focuses on the mismanagement or poor execution that led to the failure.

unproductive venture

Highlights the lack of productivity or worthwhile output from the activity.

futile exercise

Suggests the effort was ultimately pointless and without value.

flawed initiative

Indicates that the failure was due to inherent problems or defects in the design.

collapsed project

Conveys a sense of sudden and complete failure, often with significant consequences.

misguided effort

Suggests that the experiment was based on faulty assumptions or incorrect information.

doomed undertaking

Indicates that the experiment was destined to fail from the beginning.

FAQs

How can I use "failed experiment" in a sentence?

You can use "failed experiment" to describe an attempt that didn't achieve its intended outcome. For instance, "The company's attempt to implement a new marketing strategy was a "failed experiment", resulting in lower sales figures."

What are some alternatives to "failed experiment"?

Alternatives include "unsuccessful trial", "abortive attempt", or "fruitless endeavor". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "failed experiment" or "unsuccessful experiment"?

"Failed experiment" and "unsuccessful experiment" are often interchangeable, but "failed experiment" can sometimes imply a more significant or consequential failure.

What does it mean when someone describes something as a "failed experiment"?

It typically means that an attempt was made to achieve a specific goal, but the outcome was negative or didn't meet expectations. It also suggests that lessons may have been learned from the "failed experiment" that can inform future efforts.