susceptibility

[ suh-sep-tuh-bil-i-tee ]

noun

, plural sus·cep·ti·bil·i·ties.

1. state or character of being susceptible:

   susceptibility to disease.

2. capacity for receiving mental or moral impressions; tendency to be emotionally affected.
3. susceptibilities, capacities for emotion; feelings:

   His susceptibilities are easily wounded.

4. Electricity.
   1. electric susceptibility.
   2. magnetic susceptibility.

susceptibility

/ səˌsɛptəˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality or condition of being susceptible
2. the ability or tendency to be impressed by emotional feelings; sensitivity
3. plural emotional sensibilities; feelings
4. physics
   1. Also calledelectric susceptibility (of a dielectric) the amount by which the relative permittivity differs from unity Χ
   2. Also calledmagnetic susceptibility (of a magnetic medium) the amount by which the relative permeability differs from unity Κ

Other Words From

• nonsus·cepti·bili·ty noun
• over·sus·cepti·bili·ty noun
• presus·cepti·bili·ty noun plural presusceptibilities
• unsus·cepti·bili·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of susceptibility¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin susceptibilitās, equivalent to susceptibilis(is) susceptible + -itās- -ity

Synonym Study

See sensibility.

Example Sentences

History has shown that this part of Southern California is prone to major fires, given its susceptibility to intense Santa Ana winds in the fall and winter that hit when the landscape is often its driest.

From Los Angeles Times

They will make their choice via secure online voting, though this system has previously been criticised for its susceptibility to hackers and rogue state interference.

From BBC

The California Deep Landslide Susceptibility and Landslide Inventory includes a map of the state that marks areas of landslide susceptibility in dark red.

From Los Angeles Times

Party members will make their choice via secure online voting, though this system has previously been criticised for its susceptibility to hackers and rogue state interference.

From BBC

Look at what else is happening in those very regions when it comes to home insurance: Providers are either retreating from or dramatically heightening their prices in states like California, Texas, Florida, and New Jersey, thanks to their unique susceptibility to climate change.

From Slate