anecdotal

/,ænek'doutl/

Thân thiện

The professor shared an anecdotal story about his first research trip.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Based on personal accounts or stories rather than facts or research: Describes information, evidence, or a report that consists of or relies on individual, often unverified, stories or experiences.
   • Characterized by or given to telling anecdotes: Describes a style of conversation, writing, or a person that frequently includes short, interesting, or amusing stories about real incidents or people.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The article's argument was based on anecdotal observations rather than scientific data.
  • He is a great storyteller with an anecdotal style that makes history come alive.
  • Anecdotal evidence suggests the new policy is unpopular, but we need a proper survey to be sure.

Advanced Usage

• "Anecdotal in nature": Used to formally emphasize that something is based on anecdotes.
  • The report was interesting but largely anecdotal in nature.
• "Purely anecdotal": Used to stress the complete lack of systematic evidence.
  • My conclusion is purely anecdotal, based on conversations with a few customers.

Variants and Related Words

• Anecdote (n): A short, amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
  • She told an anecdote about her first day at work.
• Anecdotally (adv): In a way that is based on anecdotes.
  • Anecdotally, many users report this benefit, but clinical trials are needed.
• Anecdotic (adj): A less common synonym for anecdotal.
  • The book provides an anecdotric account of life in the 1920s.

Synonyms

• Unsubstantiated: Not supported or proven by evidence.
• Unsystematic: Not done or acting according to a fixed plan or system.
• Informal: Having a relaxed, friendly, or unofficial style or nature.

Antonyms

• Scientific: Based on or characterized by the methods and principles of science.
• Empirical: Based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.
• Statistical: Relating to the use of statistics or numerical data.

Related Phrases

• "Anecdotal evidence": A very common phrase referring to information collected in a casual or informal manner and relying heavily on personal testimony.
  • While compelling, anecdotal evidence is not considered strong proof in scientific research.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. characterized by or given to telling anecdotes
   • anecdotal conversation
   • an anecdotal history of jazz
   • he was at his anecdotic best
2. having the character of an anecdote
   • anecdotal evidence

Từ đồng nghĩa

• anecdotic
• anecdotical