perceptual

adjective

per·​cep·​tu·​al (ˌ)pər-ˈsep-chə-wəl How to pronounce perceptual (audio)
-chəl,
-shwəl
: of, relating to, or involving perception especially in relation to immediate sensory experience
perceptually adverb

Examples of perceptual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Unifying these film is an effort by filmmakers to move audiences outside of their comfort zones and to experiment with the perceptual bounds of documentary film. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2024 Do certain sensory and perceptual experiences catch you off guard? Mark Travers, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 At a high level, many autonomous vehicles have two components: a perceptual system and a control system. Steve Nadis, WIRED, 4 Feb. 2024 In general, stress impairs not only the guidance of movements but also perceptual ability and decision-making. Tom Siegfried, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 This perceptual dissonance limits our ability to immerse ourselves in the experience. IEEE Spectrum, 11 Feb. 2024 Other scenes, like ones of a faux-jungle landscape replete with potted tropical plants, shared the kind of wonky perceptual gimcrackery that marked many of his other pictures. Chris Wiley, The New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2024 My definition also highlights that streaks are perceptual. Danny Weathers, Discover Magazine, 1 Jan. 2024 Take vision, for instance; our retinas are two flat surfaces that only receive two-dimensional information, but our cognitive functions add the third dimension to our perceptual experience. Simon Duan, Scientific American, 3 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perceptual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

percept + -ual (as in conceptual)

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perceptual was in 1878

Dictionary Entries Near perceptual

Cite this Entry

“Perceptual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perceptual. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

perceptual

adjective
: of, relating to, or involving perception especially in relation to immediate sensory experience
auditory perceptual deficits
perceptually adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on perceptual

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