What does synesthesia mean?
Synesthesia is the blending of sensory experience, either as a neurological condition or as an artistic and literary device. In the medical sense, a person may perceive sound, taste, or another stimulus as automatically involving color, shape, or another sensation. The experience is involuntary and can be remarkably consistent for the individual who has it. In writing and the arts, synesthesia is the deliberate description of one sense in terms of another, such as describing music as “rough” or “golden.” The word comes from Greek elements meaning “together” and “perception,” reflecting the joining of different sensory channels. It is useful for understanding both unusual perceptual experiences and the poetic language that tries to make abstract impressions more vivid.
nounSynesthesia is the neurological condition in which stimulation of one sense also produces an automatic experience in another sense, as in hearing a sound that appears to have a particular color. In literature and the arts, it more broadly refers to the blending or cross-association of sensory impressions.
- The neurological condition in which stimulation of one sense automatically produces an experience in another sense.
- The literary or artistic blending of sensory impressions, especially the use of language that describes one kind of sensation in terms of another.
"The poet's synesthetic language allowed music to appear as color and touch."
"She has synesthesia and experiences the notes of a piano as flashes of color."
"The novel's synesthetic prose makes the storm sound blue and metallic."
Usually plural when referring to different cases of the neurological condition or to multiple artistic examples.
"The exhibition explores the synesthesias of several artists."
Synesthesia turns the senses into a team: one experience can suddenly arrive through another.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does synesthesia come from?
The word was formed in the 19th century from Greek syn- meaning “together” and aisthesis meaning “perception” or “sensation.” It was adopted into English in scientific contexts for the involuntary joining of different senses, and its figurative use developed in literary and artistic discussion. Related English words include the adjective “esthetic” and the medical terms “anesthesia” and “paresthesia,” all of which involve the Greek root associated with sensation.
Related word forms
How synesthesia is actually used
The medical sense refers to a genuine perceptual phenomenon, while the literary and artistic senses are usually metaphorical. The spelling “synaesthesia” is common in British English.
Easily confused with synesthesia
Synaesthesia is the traditional British spelling of the same word; “synesthesia” is the most common spelling in American English and is also widely used in British English.