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Sentience: meaning, definitions and examples

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sentience

 

[ ˈsɛnʃəns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

philosophy, science

Sentience refers to the capacity to have feelings, perceptions, and subjective experiences. It denotes the ability of an organism to experience sensations such as pleasure, pain, and emotions. In philosophical discussions, sentience is often a significant element in debates about animal rights and ethics.

Synonyms

awareness, consciousness, feeling, perception

Examples of usage

  • Many argue that animals possess sentience.
  • The study of consciousness often explores the concept of sentience.
  • Sentience is a crucial factor in considering the welfare of living beings.

Translations

Translations of the word "sentience" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sensiência

🇮🇳 संवेदनशीलता

🇩🇪 Empfindungsvermögen

🇮🇩 kesadaran

🇺🇦 свідомість

🇵🇱 świadomość

🇯🇵 感受性

🇫🇷 sensibilité

🇪🇸 sensibilidad

🇹🇷 duyarlılık

🇰🇷 감각

🇸🇦 الوعي

🇨🇿 vědomí

🇸🇰 vedomie

🇨🇳 知觉

🇸🇮 zavedanje

🇮🇸 vitund

🇰🇿 сезім

🇬🇪 შეგრძნება

🇦🇿 hissiyyat

🇲🇽 sensibilidad

Word origin

The term 'sentience' originates from the Latin word 'sentientis', which is the present participle of 'sentire', meaning 'to feel' or 'to perceive'. This etymology reflects the core idea of sentience as the ability to feel or perceive sensations. The word began to gain currency in the 19th century, particularly in philosophical discussions concerning consciousness and moral consideration for beings capable of experiencing suffering or joy. The evolution of the term has grown alongside advancements in the understanding of animal intelligence and consciousness, leading to debates in ethics and the rights of sentient beings. Today, sentience encompasses discussions in both science and philosophy, exploring not only feelings but also the ethical implications of sentience in relation to animal rights and environmental ethics.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,470 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.