Experience
/ɪkˈspɪə.ri.əns/noun
Practical contact with and observation of facts or events, or the knowledge gained from them.
Did you know?The word ultimately traces back to Latin *experīrī*, “to test, try, or prove,” so at its core experience is not passive—it is what you become after being tested by life.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“to try, risk, or attempt”
Latin
Latin
experīrī
“to test, try, or prove by trial”
Latin
Latin
experientia
“a trial, proof, or practical knowledge gained from testing”
Old French
Old French
experience
“knowledge gained through repeated trials or observation”
Middle English
English
experience
“practical knowledge, especially from direct observation and trial”
Modern English
English
experience
“practical contact with and knowledge of events, facts, or situations”