scientific

Scientific is an adjective relating to science, its methods, and its body of knowledge. The term comes from Latin scientia, meaning knowledge. In broad usage, scientific describes claims, procedures, or institutions that rely on systematic observation, measurement, experimentation, and reasoning to understand the natural world, the social world, or their interactions.

A central reference point is the scientific method, a process that typically involves forming testable hypotheses, conducting controlled experiments or observations, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. Key features include testability, falsifiability, transparency of methods, and the emphasis that findings should be reproducible by independent researchers. Science is cumulative and provisional: conclusions are supported by current evidence and may be revised in light of new data.

Scientists work across disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, economics, and psychology, among others. The term 'scientific' is also used to describe practices like peer review, rigorous methodology, and the use of quantitative reasoning to evaluate claims.

Limitations and caveats include uncertainty, complexity, measurement error, and ethical considerations. While science aspires to objectivity, it is conducted by humans and can be influenced by biases and methodological constraints. Distinguishing science from pseudoscience depends on criteria such as empirical testing, openness to criticism, and replicability.

In everyday language, 'scientific' may convey that something is evidence-based or methodologically sound, though it can be misused in marketing or rhetoric.