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 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) denied 30+ applications for funds that simply bought the premier cryptocurrency and parceled out their holdings as easy-to-trade shares listed on major stock exchanges, citing the susceptibility of the digital-assets market to manipulation. Javier Paz, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 Researchers have long studied the phenomenon of home-court advantage in basketball, and many keep returning to a subconscious referee bias — the human susceptibility to social influence, wanting to confirm to the opinion of the group. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2024 These only compound existing concerns around the evergreen issue of data privacy, its susceptibility to bias and the suitability of underlying data pools. Jennifer Chase, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Species-specific susceptibilities and immune responses have burdened vaccine and immunotherapy development with low success rates. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2024 This susceptibility and the lack of oversight for such ads could have adverse health consequences, especially for young adult patients. Sneha Dave, STAT, 22 Jan. 2024 Phenotypes such as growth rate and disease susceptibility were also factored into potential breeding decisions. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 12 Sep. 2023 Factors such as dosage, frequency of use, individual susceptibility, and co-occurring substance abuse all play a role in determining the overall impact on brain health. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Aug. 2023 And something similar is happening with cancer treatment: Oncologists are trying to leverage our molecular understanding of cancer to steer cancer cells toward susceptibility to certain drugs. Shawn Walsh, Quanta Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023

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 19 Mar. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!