trial-and-error

Definitions of trial-and-error

1. adjective

   relating to solving problems by experience rather than theory
   “they adopted a trial-and-error procedure”

   synonyms:

   heuristic

   of or relating to or using a general formulation that serves to guide investigation
2. adjective

   trying out various means or theories until error is satisfactorily reduced or eliminated
   “he argued that all learning is a trial-and-error process that resembles biological evolution”

   synonyms:

   empiric, empirical

   derived from experiment and observation rather than theory