Definition of "sensibility" in English

noun

1. (countable, uncountable, often in the plural) Emotions or feelings arising from or relating to aesthetic or moral standards, especially those which are sensitive and thus likely to be hurt or offended.

   • I apologize if I offended your sensibilities, but that’s the truth of the matter.

2. (uncountable) The ability to feel, perceive, or sense; responsiveness to sensory stimuli; sensitivity; also, the degree to which someone or something (especially a sensory organ or tissue) is able to respond to sensory stimuli.

3. (uncountable) The quality of being easily affected by external forces or stimuli; also, of a measuring instrument: the quality of being able to detect small changes in the environment.

4. (uncountable) Keen sensitivity to matters of creative expression or feeling; artistic or emotional awareness.

5. Awareness; also, understanding.

6. The capacity of something to be perceived by the senses; perceptibility.

7. Of a plant or one of its parts: the ability to move in response to a stimulus.

8. (uncountable, philosophy) The ability to perceive or sense as opposed to the ability to understand; also, in the philosophy of the German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724–1804): emotion or feeling as opposed to the will.

9. An emotional sense or understanding of something.

10. A sign or token of appreciation or gratitude.