sensation

noun sen·sa·tion \sen-ˈsā-shən, sən-\

: a particular feeling or effect that your body experiences

: a particular feeling or experience that may not have a real cause

: the ability to feel things through your physical senses

Full Definition of SENSATION

a : a mental process (as seeing, hearing, or smelling) resulting from the immediate external stimulation of a sense organ often as distinguished from a conscious awareness of the sensory process — compare perception

b : awareness (as of heat or pain) due to stimulation of a sense organ

c : a state of consciousness due to internal bodily changes <a sensation of hunger>

d : an indefinite bodily feeling <a sensation of buoyancy>

: something (as a physical stimulus, sense-datum, or afterimage) that causes or is the object of sensation

a : a state of excited interest or feeling <their elopement caused a sensation>

b : a cause of such excitement <the show was the musical sensation of the season>; especially : one (as a person) in some respect exceptional or outstanding <the rookie hitting sensation of the American League>

See sensation defined for English-language learners

See sensation defined for kids

Origin of SENSATION

Medieval Latin sensation-, sensatio, from Late Latin, understanding, idea, from Latin sensus

First Known Use: 1615

Related to SENSATION

Synonyms: feel, feeling, sense

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with SENSATION

aeration, Alsatian, carnation, castration, causation, cessation, cetacean, citation, Claymation, cognation, collation, conflation, C ration, creation, cremation, crenation, Croatian, crustacean, dalmatian, damnation, deflation, delation, dictation, dilation, donation, earth station, elation, Eurasian, filtration, fixation, flirtation, flotation, formation, foundation, frustration, gas station, gestation, gradation, gustation, guttation, gyration, hydration, inflation, lactation, legation, libation, location, lunation, lustration, luxation, migration, mutation, narration, negation, notation, oblation, oration, outstation, ovation, palmation, palpation, plantation, potation, predation, privation, probation, pronation, proration, prostration, pulsation, punctation, pupation, purgation, relation, rogation, rotation, salvation, sedation, serration, space station, stagflation, stagnation, starvation, striation, substation, summation, tarnation, taxation, temptation, translation, truncation, vacation, vexation, vibration, vocation, way station, workstation

SENSATION Defined for Kids

sensation

noun sen·sa·tion \sen-ˈsā-shən\

Definition of SENSATION for Kids

: awareness (as of noise or heat) or a mental process (as seeing or smelling) resulting from stimulation of a sense organ <I felt a tingling sensation in my leg.>

: an indefinite awareness of a feeling or experience <… I had the sensation I'd been there before. — Avi, Crispin>

: a state of excited interest or feeling <The rumor caused a sensation.>

: a cause or object of excited interest <The play was a sensation.>

Medical Dictionary

sensation

noun sen·sa·tion \sen-ˈsā-shən, sən-\

Medical Definition of SENSATION

a : a mental process (as seeing, hearing, or smelling) due to immediate bodily stimulation often as distinguished from awareness of the process—compare perception b : awareness (as of heat or pain) due to stimulation of a sense organ c : a state of consciousness of a kind usually due to physical objects or internal bodily changes <a burning sensation in his chest>

: something (as a physical object, sense-datum, pain, or afterimage) that causes or is the object of sensation