Sentence:  Even at the height of its popularity, medical <WSD>empiricism</WSD> was the creature of a most unforgiving free market economy. Successful practioners seduced crowds as well as public officials. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A practice of medicine founded on mere experience, without the aid of science or a knowledge of principles; ignorant and unscientific practice; the method or practice of an empiric.