sentience
noun
sen·tience
ˈsen(t)-sh(ē-)ən(t)s 
ˈsen-tē-ən(t)s
1
: a sentient quality or state
2
: feeling or sensation as distinguished from perception and thought
Examples of sentience in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While the action-awareness gap isn’t lost on climate crusaders and corporate comptrollers alike, most climate solutions for reduction start with sentience—fashion included, and no, not just in trend forecasting.
—
Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 16 Oct. 2025
Typically in sci-fi, artificial intelligence gaining sentience means bad things for human beings.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Oct. 2025
People see language as a marker of sentience and agency.
—Webb Wright, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025
Today programmers are claiming their AI creations have achieved sentience; Google fired a senior developer who claimed their chatbot had gained self-awareness.
—Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sentience
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 16 Oct. 2025
Typically in sci-fi, artificial intelligence gaining sentience means bad things for human beings.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Oct. 2025
People see language as a marker of sentience and agency.
—Webb Wright, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025
Today programmers are claiming their AI creations have achieved sentience; Google fired a senior developer who claimed their chatbot had gained self-awareness.
—Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sentience
Cite this Entry
“Sentience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sentience. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share