'empiricism' originates from the Greek word 'empeiria,' where 'em-' meant 'in' and 'peira' meant 'trial, experiment.'

'empeiria' transformed into the Latin word 'empiricus,' and eventually became the modern English word 'empiricism' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'relying on experience or observation,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a theory of knowledge based on experience.'