Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
trial-balloon
noun
/ˈtraɪəl bəˈluːn/
Definition
A preliminary plan or idea that is tested in order to gauge public reaction or to explore its feasibility.
Examples
- The government floated a trial-balloon policy to see how citizens would react.
- The company launched a trial-balloon ad campaign to test consumer interest.
- Before deciding on the new product launch, the team decided to send out a trial-balloon survey.
Meaning
A trial-balloon is often used in political, business, or creative contexts to test the waters for a concept before fully committing to it.
Synonyms
- pilot project
- test
- experiment
- trial run
- forerunner
