sensibility

American  

[sen-suh-bil-i-tee] / ˌsɛn səˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

sensibilities

1. capacity for sensation or feeling; responsiveness or susceptibility to sensory stimuli.

2. mental susceptibility or responsiveness; quickness and acuteness of apprehension or feeling.

   Synonyms:

   awareness, alertness

3. keen consciousness or appreciation.

4. sensibilities, emotional capacities.

5. Sometimes sensibilities. liability to feel hurt or offended; sensitive feelings.

6. Often sensibilities. capacity for intellectual and aesthetic distinctions, feelings, tastes, etc..

   a man of refined sensibilities.

7. the property, as in plants or instruments, of being readily affected by external influences.

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sensibility British  

/ ˌsɛnsɪˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the ability to perceive or feel

2. (often plural) the capacity for responding to emotion, impression, etc

3. (often plural) the capacity for responding to aesthetic stimuli

4. mental responsiveness; discernment; awareness

5. (usually plural) emotional or moral feelings

   cruelty offends most people's sensibilities

6. the condition of a plant of being susceptible to external influences, esp attack by parasites

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Related Words

Sensibility, susceptibility, sensitiveness, sensitivity refer to capacity to respond to or be affected by something. Sensibility is, particularly, capacity to respond to aesthetic and emotional stimuli: the sensibility of the artist. Susceptibility is the state or quality of being impressionable and responsive, especially to emotional stimuli; in the plural it has much the same meaning as sensibility : a person of keen susceptibilities. Sensitiveness is the state or quality of being sensitive, of having a capacity of sensation and of responding to external stimuli: sensitiveness to light. Sensitivity is a special capability of being sensitive to physiological, chemical action or a tendency to be easily affected by the adverse reactions of others: the sensitivity of a nerve; sensitivity to criticism.

Other Word Forms

• hypersensibility noun
• nonsensibility noun
• unsensibility noun

Etymology

Origin of sensibility

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English sensibilite, from Middle French, from Late Latin sēnsibilitās. See sensible, -ity

Example Sentences

We hired all drama writers, just people that have different sensibilities.

From Los Angeles Times

Nabbing people as they wait for jobs as roofers or drywallers, or raiding hotels and farms as they do useful things and earn money for themselves and their families, offends natural sensibilities.

From The Wall Street Journal

Publishers energetically reprint the interwar backlist; film producers confidently invest in adaptations and pastiches; and genre authors such as Anthony Horowitz and Ruth Ware combine traditional conventions with contemporary sensibilities.

From The Wall Street Journal

Gerry’s sensibility is firmly of this world, in which he is determined to take what pleasures he can.

From The Wall Street Journal

Roan’s lipstick gone “awry” on her teeth brings a camp sensibility to both mock and celebrate feminine performance that resists traditional heteronormative constructs.

From Salon

Related Words

• affection
• emotion
• feeling
• insight
• sense
• sensitivity
• sentiment
• taste