sensate

American  

[sen-seyt] / ˈsɛn seɪt /

adjective

1. perceiving or perceived through the senses.

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sensate British  

/ ˈsɛnseɪt /

adjective

1. perceived by the senses

2. obsolete having the power of sensation

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Other Word Forms

• nonsensate
  adjective
• unsensate
  adjective
• sensately
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of sensate

From the Late Latin word sēnsātus, dating back to 1490–1500. See sense, -ate ¹

Explanation

When your dog yelps when a toddler pulls its tail, you know that your dog is a sensate creature. Something that is sensate has feelings or can be felt. You can use this adjective for things that you can sense physically, or for people who have the ability to perceive such things. You could say that humans are sensate but robots aren't (yet). Or describe a loud rock concert as an overwhelming sensate experience. Sensate comes from the Late Latin word sensatus, "gifted with sense or perception." It gained popularity as an adjective in the 1930s, when sociologists began using it.

Example Sentences

Find moments in your busy life to embrace the beauty of being a living, sentient, thoughtful, sensate organism.

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2025

Those who took it would have been wide-eyed and exceptionally sensate when Hamas rockets began appearing in the sky.

From New York Times • Nov. 18, 2023

By that time, we know Lenin has not survived, and we know that this is less the story of a sensate apartment than it is the story of a ghost.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2023

“The whole goal is by the time she’s done with all this, it looks good, it’s sensate, and in five years if somebody doesn’t know her they won’t notice,” Dr. Johnson said.

From Washington Times • May 10, 2018

With shrinking eyes she saw the beast Rolling in agony, until At last the sensate struggles ceased, And all that mighty frame was still.

From Indian Legends of Minnesota by Severance, Cordenio A., Mrs.