sentient

[ sen-shuhnt‐shee-uhnt‐tee-uhnt ]

adjective

1. having the power of perception by the senses; conscious.
2. characterized by sensation and consciousness.

noun

1. a person or thing that is sentient.
2. Archaic. the conscious mind.

sentient

/ ˈsɛntɪənt /

adjective

1. having the power of sense perception or sensation; conscious

noun

1. rare.
   a sentient person or thing

Derived Forms

• ˈsentiently, adverb

Other Words From

• sentient·ly adverb
• non·sentient adjective
• non·sentient·ly adverb
• un·sentient adjective
• un·sentient·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sentient¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin sentient-, stem of sentiēns “feeling,” present participle of sentīre “to feel” sense ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of sentient¹

C17: from Latin sentiēns feeling, from sentīre to perceive

Example Sentences

And, of course, those people working in animal laboratories, animal research, they don’t want to think animals are sentient.

From Vox

In terms of just the number of sentient beings — the sheer number of captive beings — chickens are up there.

From Vox

It was as though our party had been teleported onto some far-off planet and we were the only sentient creatures.

From Outside Online

I also saw these sentient, highly intelligent animals display other typically human behaviors.

From Time

The scientist you interacted with was probably a very nice person—but just didn’t seem to think that the animals they experimented on were very sentient and probably in enormous distress.

From Nautilus

What is the quality of the sentient light they encounter, that “shines not burns”?

From The Daily Beast

Add Jews and Muslims to the mix, and a monotheistic belief in a sentient higher power is practically universal in the U.S.

From The Daily Beast

Professor Smith also makes the case for future droids becoming quasi-sentient—with pre-programmed sentience, that is.

From The Daily Beast

Moreover, taking the life of a sentient being is repugnant, a sin that prevents many devout Buddhists from slaughtering animals.

From The Daily Beast

In the world where we are, we see all sentient beings living and suffering in the midst of dangers.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus a sentient and thinking being needs but to feel and to think, in order to discover that which is due to him and to others.

From Project Gutenberg

It was not my bosom against which her bosom heaved—it was the nearest sentient resting-place on which she could lay it.

From Project Gutenberg

But republican vengeance did not waste itself exclusively upon senseless lime and stone—it sought out sentient victims.

From Project Gutenberg

You never so much as thought of her as a human being, a sentient, reasoning personage like yourself.

From Project Gutenberg