What does sensate mean?
Sensate describes something that possesses sensory awareness or belongs to the world as experienced through the senses. A sensate being can see, hear, touch, taste, and smell, while a sensate world is the ordinary physical universe considered apart from supernatural claims. The term is more formal and abstract than the everyday word sensory and is especially associated with philosophy and theology. In those contexts, it forms a conceptual contrast with nonsensate: one side represents perception, nature, and intelligibility, while the other suggests existence beyond ordinary sensory experience. Although sensate can occasionally evoke ideas of sensitivity or perceptiveness, its distinctive meaning concerns the possession of senses or membership in the perceptible world rather than emotional or physical reactivity. Understanding the word helps clarify arguments about what can be known through experience and what lies beyond it.
adjectiveHaving sensory perception or awareness; conscious and able to experience the physical world through the senses. In philosophical use, belonging to the natural, intelligible world rather than the supernatural.
- Having the capacity to perceive things through the senses.
- Existing within the natural or intelligible world, as opposed to a supernatural realm.
"Human beings are sensate creatures capable of learning from direct experience."
"The infant soon became acutely aware of the sounds and textures of the sensate world around her."
"The philosopher contrasted our knowledge of the sensate universe with claims about supernatural forces."
A sensate world is one in which sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell make experience possible.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sensate come from?
Sensate comes from the Latin sensatus, meaning “having senses” or “perceived by the senses,” a participial form of sentire, “to perceive” or “to feel.” The same Latin root underlies sensory, sensation, sensible, and sensitive. Its philosophical use reflects an older contrast between the sensate, intelligible realm of experience and a supposed nonsensate realm beyond it.
How sensate is actually used
The word is chiefly formal and philosophical. It is especially common in the contrast between the sensate and nonsensate worlds.
Easily confused with sensate
Sensate means having sensory awareness or belonging to the perceptible world, whereas sensitive usually means being easily affected physically, emotionally, or socially.