anecdotal
Meaning: Based on personal accounts or individual cases rather than systematic evidence or rigorous research; not scientifically verified.
Anecdotal is frequently used in academic and scientific writing to distinguish informal, personal observations from evidence gathered through controlled studies. 'Anecdotal evidence' is a common collocation that carries an implicit caveat — the information may be interesting but cannot be generalised. In journalism, the word signals that a claim lacks robust backing. It can also mean 'characterised by anecdotes,' describing a style of storytelling, though this sense is less common in formal writing. It collocates with 'evidence,' 'reports,' 'accounts,' and 'at best.'
Examples
- The committee acknowledged that evidence for the treatment's effectiveness was largely anecdotal and called for a randomised controlled trial. 委员会承认该疗法有效性的证据大多为轶事性的,并呼吁开展随机对照试验。El comité reconoció que las pruebas de la eficacia del tratamiento eran en gran medida anecdóticas y solicitó un ensayo controlado aleatorizado.委員会はその治療法の有効性を示す証拠が大部分は逸話的なものであることを認め、ランダム化比較試験の実施を求めた。위원회는 그 치료법의 효과를 뒷받침하는 증거가 대부분 일화적인 것임을 인정하고 무작위 대조 시험의 실시를 요구했다.
- Anecdotal reports from teachers suggest that the new curriculum has improved pupil engagement, but formal data are not yet available. 来自教师的轶事报告表明新课程提高了学生的参与度,但正式数据尚未公布。Los informes anecdóticos de los profesores sugieren que el nuevo currículo ha mejorado la participación del alumnado, pero aún no se dispone de datos formales.教師からの逸話的な報告は新カリキュラムが生徒の参加意欲を高めたことを示唆しているが、正式なデータはまだ得られていない。교사들의 일화적 보고에 따르면 새 교육과정이 학생들의 참여도를 높인 것으로 보이나, 공식적인 데이터는 아직 확보되지 않았다.
- The historian relied on anecdotal accounts from local residents to reconstruct daily life in the wartime village. 那位历史学家依靠当地居民的口述回忆来重建战时村庄的日常生活。El historiador recurrió a relatos anecdóticos de los vecinos del lugar para reconstruir la vida cotidiana del pueblo durante la guerra.その歴史家は戦時下の村の日常生活を再現するために、地元住民の体験談に頼った。그 역사학자는 전시 마을의 일상생활을 재구성하기 위해 지역 주민들의 경험담에 의존했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From French anecdotique, from Greek anekdota (things unpublished), from an- (not) and ekdotos (given out, published). The adjective form entered English in the early 19th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
More From This Topic
More from General Advanced
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free