susceptibility

noun

sus·​cep·​ti·​bil·​i·​ty sə-ˌsep-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce susceptibility (audio)
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

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 The fear among Western diplomatic circles is that Nusantara increases Indonesia’s susceptibility to influence from China, which is already engaged in several transformative infrastructure projects, notably the flagship Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway. Charlie Campbell / Jakarta, TIME, 14 Oct. 2024 Recent findings suggest the activation of progesterone receptors in the brain could increase susceptibility to pain. Lori Youmshajekian, WIRED, 23 Sep. 2024 This gradual process is one of the leading causes of sticking windows but can also lead to visible signs of damage, cracks, and greater susceptibility to storm damage. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2024 Lack of transparency around black-box AI models, susceptibility to bias, ethical considerations, threat actors that can exploit open-source models, and AI models that hold large amounts of data vastly increase an organization’s attack surface. Forrester, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for susceptibility 

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

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of susceptibility was in 1644

Dictionary Entries Near susceptibility

Cite this Entry

“Susceptibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/susceptibility. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

susceptibility

noun
sus·​cep·​ti·​bil·​i·​ty sə-ˌsep-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce susceptibility (audio)
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 How to pronounce susceptibility (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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