perceived

American  

[per-seevd] / pərˈsivd /

adjective

1. taken in by the senses; heard, seen, felt, etc..

   Spontaneous memories are activated by specific signals from the parts of the brain that deal with perceived stimuli like smells, pictures, and words.

2. detected, discerned, or recognized, often without corroboration by others.

   He fails to appreciate that the perceived "backlash" against his post was not an expression of reluctance to accept change, just disagreement with his specific proposal.

---

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of perceive.

Other Word Forms

• perceivedly adverb
• perceivedness noun
• unperceived adjective
• well-perceived adjective

Etymology

Origin of perceived

perceive ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Auriemma confronted Staley over a perceived pregame handshake slight and also criticized officials for foul calls during the game.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Asking for help is "taboo" and might be perceived as a "sign of weakness", she adds.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Displays of it, particularly in architecture or public art, are often perceived as tacky, kitschy or, heaven forbid, nouveau riche.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

That has tended to be less effective, though, as much of the music is perceived as corny to those who aren’t living in a Christian fundamentalist environment.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026

Helping the most desperate people first was how they would change the way the world perceived poverty.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• anticipated
• recognized