auditory
Americanadjective
-
Anatomy, Physiology. pertaining to hearing, to the sense of hearing, or to the organs of hearing.
-
perceived through or resulting from the sense of hearing.
auditory hallucinations.
noun
plural
auditories-
an assembly of hearers; audience.
-
an auditorium, especially the nave of a church.
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- auditorially adverb
- auditorily adverb
- postauditory adjective
- preauditory adjective
Etymology
Origin of auditory
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin audītōrius relating to hearing. See auditor, -tory 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The computational model of a neural network mimicked the owl’s auditory map—the flow of auditory information—which helped Rumelhart derive a theory about how the owl’s system developed and worked.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
Brain implants will provide all the auditory and visual stimulation needed to simulate any form of live entertainment.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
"We found that the internal focus promoted by eye closure actually works against you in this context, leading to over-filtering, whereas visual engagement helps anchor the auditory system to the external world."
From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2026
Many autistic people require additional time to process auditory input and verbal responses, particularly in unfamiliar circumstances.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026
Effects of informal music activities on auditory discrimination and attention in 2–3-year-old children.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
