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

But If these two individuals are now one, does that mean their minds literally melded — or that perhaps they were never even sentient in the first place?

From Salon

The text of the law recognizes that octopuses are “highly intelligent, curious, problem-solving animals” that are conscious, sentient and experience “pain, stress, and fear, as well as pleasure, equanimity, and social bonds.”

From Los Angeles Times

The idea that AI might become sentient does not fill Anadol with terror.

From Los Angeles Times

Cooley’s film remains very much a mainstream product entrenched in the build-it-as-we-go mythology of these sentient machines, but there’s an attention to the motivations and desires of its characters missing in many Hollywood cash grabs.

From Los Angeles Times

“Students connect with the animals as other sentient beings.”

From Los Angeles Times