sensory
SEN-suh-ree
/ˈsen.sər.i/
Relating to physical sensation or the organs of perception.
Describes the biological and physiological apparatus for capturing light, sound, touch, taste, and smell.
The story behind the word. Traced back to Latin 'sentire', meaning to feel, perceive, or think. This single Latin root spawned an entire family of English words including sense, sensory, sentiment, and sentence.
Word relationships
- sensorial: Less common formal adjective with identical meaning.
- motor: In biology, motor relates to movement outputs, whereas sensory relates to input reception.
Commonly confused with
- sensual: Sensual relates to bodily pleasure; sensory relates strictly to the physical organs of sense.
- sensible: Sensible means showing wisdom or practical judgment.
Word family
- sensation (noun): A physical feeling or perception resulting from something that happens to or comes into contact with the body.
- sensor (noun): A device that detects physical inputs.
Collocations
- sensory deprivation
- sensory overload
- sensory memory
- sensory perception
Idioms & expressions
- sensory overload
Example sentences
- "Sensory neurons transmit signals from body receptors straight to the spinal cord and brain." Neurology
- "The kindergarten classroom was designed to offer rich sensory experiences, including sand tables and rhythmic music." Education
Memory hook
SENSory = SENSes in action (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). Plugged into the physical senses.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'sensual' (related to physical pleasure) or 'sensible' (showing good judgment).
Fun facts
- Sensory deprivation tanks (isolation tanks) remove light and sound to produce profound states of deep relaxation and altered awareness.
Related words
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