clinical trial

noun

: a scientifically controlled study of the safety and effectiveness of a therapeutic agent (such as a drug or vaccine) using consenting human subjects

Examples of clinical trial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Clozapine, however, failed in its first clinical trials, carried out in 1962, partly because the doses were too low and supplies of the drug were limited. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026

This summer, the company that makes Brecken’s treatment delayed a clinical trial for another drug candidate that would treat Yannick. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 7 Oct. 2026

In fact, 99% of drugs developed for Alzheimer’s that showed promise in the lab failed in human clinical trials. — Julie Moreno, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026

One way to find out how the gut shapes health is to conduct clinical trials involving fecal transplants. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clinical trial

• sensorial
• denial
• mistrial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• dial
• rial
• thiol
• vial

Medical Definition

clinical trial

noun

: a scientifically controlled study of the safety and effectiveness of a therapeutic agent (as a drug or vaccine) using consenting human subjects