susceptibility

noun

sus·​cep·​ti·​bil·​i·​ty sə-ˌsep-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

plural susceptibilities

1

: the quality or state of being susceptible

especially : lack of ability to resist some extraneous agent (such as a pathogen or drug) : sensitivity

2

a

: a susceptible temperament or constitution

b

susceptibilities plural : feelings, sensibilities

3

a

: the ratio of the magnetization in a substance to the corresponding magnetizing force

b

: the ratio of the electric polarization to the electric intensity in a polarized dielectric

Synonyms

• defenselessness
• vulnerability
• weakness

Examples of susceptibility in a Sentence

A weak immune system causes increased susceptibility to disease.

his aunt's unfortunate susceptibility to viruses meant she was nearly always sick

Recent Examples on the Web

Expanding the bat toolbox: Carollia perspicillata bat cell lines and reagents enable the characterization of viral susceptibility and innate immune responses Avery Hurt is a freelance science journalist. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 17 May 2025

This project has involved regularly testing samples of N. gonorrhoeae obtained from STD clinics for their susceptibility to different antibiotics like cefixime, ceftriaxone, azithromycin and ciprofloxacin. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025

Scientists have debunked these suggestions, but is there any credence to claims that vitamin A or other nutrients can help reduce susceptibility to severe measles? —Jia H. Jung, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2025

Simply maintaining awareness of algorithmic influence reduced susceptibility to recommendation system manipulation by a significant margin. Appreciation. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for susceptibility

• acceptability
• accessibility
• adaptability
• admissibility
• advisability
• affordability
• allowability
• amenability
• amiability
• appealability
• applicability
• availability

Kids Definition

susceptibility

noun

sus·​cep·​ti·​bil·​i·​ty sə-ˌsep-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

plural susceptibilities

1

: the quality or state of being susceptible

especially : lack of ability to resist some outside agent (as a disease-causing germ or drug)

2

a

: a susceptible disposition or nature

b

plural : one's emotional state : feelings

Medical Definition

susceptibility

noun

sus·​cep·​ti·​bil·​i·​ty sə-ˌsep-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

plural susceptibilities

1

: the quality or state of being susceptible : the state of being predisposed to, sensitive to, or of lacking the ability to resist something (as a pathogen, familial disease, or a drug) : sensitivity

2

a

: the ratio of the magnetization in a substance to the corresponding magnetizing force see paramagnetic

b

: the ratio of the electric polarization to the electric intensity in a polarized dielectric