sensibility

American  

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

noun

• sensibilities
  plural

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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Synonym Usage

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

Derived Forms

• hypersensibility
  noun
• nonsensibility
  noun
• unsensibility
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sensibilities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sensibility

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

Explanation

Sensibility is your ability to feel or be aware of something. Your artistic sensibility might allow you to understand even the most complex work of art. Sensibility often refers to your ability to respond to emotions or to appreciate artistic works — things that you sense rather than analyze logically. Your poetic sensibility might allow you to choose exactly the right word to create a particular tone when you’re writing. Sensibility can also refer to your sensitivity to good or bad impressions — it’s sort of like your feelings. Used in this way, the word is often plural. Your brother’s thoughtless remarks may offend your sensibilities.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sensibility sensibilities

Nick Antosca was a fan of the 1962 and 1991 film versions of ‘Cape Fear,’ and while his remake for Apple TV keeps the Southern Gothic sensibility, it also has modern twists.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

"We look to expand our market, targeting new consumers that have more sensibility to price and maybe are younger and more interested in having something technology" integrated, said Milleri during a conference call.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

In Belle Époque Paris, the cabarets of Montmartre rebelled against industrial modernity and spawned an aggressive avant-garde sensibility.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

The show’s Le Carré-meets-Camus sensibility made the program sui generis.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Although her temperament lacked grace, she had a rare sensibility for appreciating the things of the world and had a secret tenderness.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Surely literature is a path to discovering other sensibilities, other universes; “Reading Lolita in Tehran,” by contrast, is about people essentially saying, “This book is meaningful because it reminds me of my life.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

For one thing, the two represent different sensibilities within the nationalist camp.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

According to the couple’s daughters, the two brought their Midwest charm and sensibilities to the East Coast.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026

The contours of Pride appear in my mind whenever I’m watching a movie that I feel speaks to my own uniquely homosexual sensibilities, which frequently change.

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2026

Newspapers prominently featured Resha’s words and echoed the sensibilities of the state.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

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