susceptibility

American  

[suh-sep-tuh-bil-i-tee] / səˌsɛp təˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

susceptibilities

1. state or character of being susceptible.

   susceptibility to disease.

2. capacity for receiving mental or moral impressions; tendency to be emotionally affected.

3. susceptibilities, capacities for emotion; feelings.

   His susceptibilities are easily wounded.

4. Electricity.

   1. electric susceptibility.

   2. magnetic susceptibility.

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susceptibility British  

/ səˌsɛptəˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality or condition of being susceptible

2. the ability or tendency to be impressed by emotional feelings; sensitivity

3. (plural) emotional sensibilities; feelings

4. physics

   1. Also called: electric susceptibility.   Χ.  (of a dielectric) the amount by which the relative permittivity differs from unity

   2.  Κ.  Also called: magnetic susceptibility.  (of a magnetic medium) the amount by which the relative permeability differs from unity

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Related Words

See sensibility.

Other Word Forms

• nonsusceptibility noun
• oversusceptibility noun
• presusceptibility noun
• unsusceptibility noun

Etymology

Origin of susceptibility

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin susceptibilitās, equivalent to susceptibilis(is) susceptible + -itās- -ity

Example Sentences

Based on this, the researchers hypothesize that genetic variation in ST6GAL1 could affect Paraprevotella levels and, in turn, susceptibility to viral infection.

From Science Daily

High intake of ultra-processed foods, red and processed meats, and sugary drinks has been associated with inflammation and a greater susceptibility to cancer.

From Science Daily

To explore this question, the recently published study examined metabolites in the blood of mice that varied in their susceptibility to obesity and diabetes.

From Science Daily

More than 95 percent of all people have natural immunity to Hansen’s, which is only mildly communicable even to those with susceptibility, and since 1941, it has been entirely curable.

From Salon

The new findings show that human susceptibility to lead may be deeply rooted in our evolutionary past and shaped by interactions between genes and environmental conditions.

From Science Daily