laboratory
noun
lab·o·ra·to·ry
ˈla-b(ə-)rə-ˌtȯr-ē 
sometimes ˈla-bər-ˌtȯr-,
or ˈla-bə-ˌtȯr-,
or lə-ˈbȯr-ə-ˌtȯr-
plural laboratories
often attributive
1
a
: a place equipped for experimental study in a science or for testing and analysis
a research laboratory
broadly
: a place providing opportunity for experimentation, observation, or practice in a field of study
b
: a place like a laboratory for testing, experimentation, or practice
That area is a laboratory for cultivating the germ of terrorism.
2
: an academic period set aside for laboratory work
a course of study requiring two lectures and one laboratory per week
Examples of laboratory in a Sentence
experiments conducted in a modern laboratory
Recent Examples on the Web
The final determination and report are pending further laboratory testing, state police said.
—
Nicole Acosta, People.com, 22 July 2025
Through its laboratories, research, and educational outreach, the Institute reinforces a set of standards that both reflect and shape the values of the industry.
—Jennifer Lee, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
That facility housed weaving, dyeing, lamination and coating operations, as well as a research, development and testing laboratory.
—Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 21 July 2025
Wen: Diagnosis is made through laboratory testing of blood, sputum and parts of a swollen lymph node.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for laboratory
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nicole Acosta, People.com, 22 July 2025
Through its laboratories, research, and educational outreach, the Institute reinforces a set of standards that both reflect and shape the values of the industry.
—Jennifer Lee, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
That facility housed weaving, dyeing, lamination and coating operations, as well as a research, development and testing laboratory.
—Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 21 July 2025
Wen: Diagnosis is made through laboratory testing of blood, sputum and parts of a swollen lymph node.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for laboratory
Cite this Entry
“Laboratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laboratory. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
laboratory
noun
lab·o·ra·to·ry
ˈlab-(ə-)rə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
-ˌtȯr-
plural laboratories
: a place equipped for making scientific experiments and tests
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share