empírico

Empírico is an adjective used in Spanish to describe knowledge, methods, or conclusions grounded in observation, experience, or experiment rather than theory or deduction alone. It contrasts with teórico or deductive approaches. In science, empirical evidence—datos empíricos—are obtained through measurements, experiments, or real-world observation.

The term derives from Latin empíricus, from Greek empeirikos “experienced,” through French empirique, and entered Spanish in the early modern period. It is widely used across disciplines to indicate that findings or methods rely on practical experience and observable data.

In medicine and pharmacology, "tratamiento empírico" or "terapia empírica" denotes therapy initiated based on the clinician's judgment of the most likely diagnosis, before confirmatory tests are available; common in infectious disease contexts, with broad-spectrum antibiotics pending culture results. The concept emphasizes practicality and experience but also carries risks of misdiagnosis or antimicrobial resistance if not reassessed with test results.

In philosophy, "empírico" relates to empiricism—the view that knowledge arises from sense experience. An "método empírico" uses observation and experiment rather than a priori reasoning.

In everyday language, "hacer algo de forma empírica" means learning by trial and error or through practical experience. The term is sometimes used pejoratively to describe conclusions that lack rigorous theory or statistical support, though it remains a central notion in evaluating evidence and methods in various fields.