sensibilities
n. plural-onlyn. the ability to feel or be affected by things like art, morals, or other people's feelings. It often refers to what a person or group finds acceptable or offensive.
n. the capacity for physical or emotional sensation; the specific set of feelings or aesthetic standards held by a person or group. Often refers to the potential for being offended or shocked by a breach of taste.
The movie's violence shocked the sensibilities of the local audience.
A successful diplomat must respect the cultural sensibilities of the host country to avoid causing accidental offense.
The architect's minimalist design was intended to appeal to modern sensibilities, though it was initially rejected by traditionalists who preferred more ornate structures.
From sensibility + -es (suffix forming pluralia tantum; and regular plural forms of nouns).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Almost always used in the plural form when referring to emotional or aesthetic feelings; takes plural verb agreement.
- Nounsensibilities
- Nounsensibility
Last updated May 8, 2026