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

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Etymology

Origin of sensibility

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

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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

Their subject matter, composition and paint handling revealed an utterly original visual sensibility, an almost obsessively focused individuality.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Along with the technicolor mural, Caland’s singular sensibility persists in scattered drawings, a bouquet of her preferred 30-inch paintbrushes and a pair of stiff-backed pews.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026

His mid-20th century style reflects both the European zeitgeist and his own exuberantly analytic big-picture sensibility.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

His eye grants us access to a major aesthetic sensibility.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

But in all these cases, there is a correlation that has to do with affinity, sensibility, and ability.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

The actor, who scored an Academy Award for her starring role in the hit film "Anora," said she shares "a lot of the same sensibilities" and concerns voiced by White.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

His paternal roots stretch back to Oklahoma, and his mother’s side of the family hails from Kentucky, which is to say that he was raised with Southern sensibilities from the start.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

It characterized the injury as one arising from “offense, disagreement, or distaste” and reasoned that allowing such an interest to establish standing could permit citizens to challenge virtually any government project that offends their sensibilities.

From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026

The audience for Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants,” for example, was primarily young millennials, but the sensibilities of its Gen X writers are all over it.

From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026

Janie soon began to feel the impact of awe and envy against her sensibilities.

From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

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Related Words

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

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