Word of the day empirical

by Christine Lovatt

"This study is both ground-breaking and standard-setting as it introduces empirical methods in the study of international arbitration."
Empirical means verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic. In other words, a hands-on approach rather than an academic one. You might think it comes from 'empire' but it has a different root. Empirical is derived from the Greek empeiria 'experience', whereas empire comes from the Latin imperare 'to command'.

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