nociceptive

adjective

no·​ci·​cep·​tive ˌnō-si-ˈsep-tiv How to pronounce nociceptive (audio)
1
of a stimulus : painful, injurious
2
: of, induced by, or responding to a nociceptive stimulus
nociceptive pain
a nociceptive nerve pathway

Examples of nociceptive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
There are two types of pain associated with HS: nociceptive (localized) and neuropathic (nerve) pain.34 HS pain can affect a person's quality of life, affecting their work, intimacy, and mental health. — Heidi Cope, Health, 24 Dec. 2024 The nociceptive system, which registers pain, is one player. — Emily Sohn, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin nocēre "to injure, harm" + -i- + -ceptive (in receptive) — more at noxious

Note: Term probably introduced by the British physiologist Charles Scott Sherrington (1857-1952) in several publications in 1904, as "Correlation of Reflexes and the Principle of the Common Path" (opening address to a meeting of the British Association, Section I, Physiology), Nature, vol. 70, no. 1819 (September 8, 1904), p. 463.

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nociceptive was in 1904

Rhymes for nociceptive

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“Nociceptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nociceptive. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

nociceptive

adjective
no·​ci·​cep·​tive ˌnō-si-ˈsep-tiv How to pronounce nociceptive (audio)
1
of a stimulus : painful, injurious
2
: of, induced by, or responding to a nociceptive stimulus
—used especially of receptors or protective reflexes
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