kinesthetic
kin-es-THET-ik
/ˌkɪnəsˈθetɪk/
Relating to a person's awareness of the position and movement of the parts of the body by means of sensory organs in the muscles and joints.
It is the 'sixth sense' that tells a gymnast where they are in the air during a flip without looking.
The story behind the word. Coined in the 19th century from the Greek 'kinein' (to move) and 'aisthesis' (sensation). It literally means 'the sensation of movement'.
Word relationships
- proprioceptive: Proprioceptive is the medical term for the internal sense of body position; kinesthetic is more often used in sports and dance.
Commonly confused with
- kinetic: Kinetic refers to the energy of motion itself; kinesthetic refers to the perception of that motion.
Word family
- kinesthesia (noun): The sense that detects bodily position and movement.
Collocations
- kinesthetic sense
- kinesthetic learning
- kinesthetic feedback
Example sentences
- "A gymnast needs high kinesthetic awareness to land a triple twist perfectly." Aerial awareness
- "Kinesthetic learners understand better when they can physically engage with the material." Education
Memory hook
Kinesthetic: 'Kin' (movement like kinetic) + 'esthetic' (feeling/sensing). Feeling the movement.
When not to use
Too technical for casual conversation about just 'moving around'.
Fun facts
- Without your kinesthetic sense, you wouldn't be able to touch your nose with your eyes closed.
Related words
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