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
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.
Moreover, Putin is fully aware of Trump’s susceptibility to flattery, which the former KGB colonel will freely exploit. Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024 Genes provide the blueprint for brain and nervous system development, affecting traits such as temperament and susceptibility to mental health conditions. Quora, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024 More than 80 percent of infections are caused by E. coli, and in a 2022 report, the World Health Organization found that one in five UTI infections caused by E. coli showed reduced susceptibility to standard antibiotics like ampicillin, co-trimoxazole, and fluoroquinolones. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 10 Sep. 2024 But the severity of symptoms depends on the type of contaminant, the concentration, the amount of water consumed, the duration of exposure, and an individual’s susceptibility. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 12 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for susceptibility 

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 22 Nov. 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!