sentience

noun

sen·tience ˈsen(t)-sh(ē-)ən(t)s

ˈsen-tē-ən(t)s

: a sentient quality or state

: feeling or sensation as distinguished from perception and thought

Examples of sentience in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Animals at the continuum’s other end—including great apes, cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), and elephants—possess a complex consciousness and self-consciousness, exquisite sentience, robust general intelligence, and a powerful sense of autonomy. —

Steven M. Wise, Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 2015 At some point along this continuum, however, a primitive level of consciousness and sentience kicks in. —

Steven M. Wise, Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 2015 Some countries, such as France, Brazil, and the U.K., now recognize animal sentience, meaning that animals can feel fear and pain, as well as positive emotions, such as excitement and joy. —

Shannon L. Bowen, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 May 2024 My view is that sentience, or the ability to suffer, would be a sufficient condition, but not a necessary condition, for an AI system to have moral status. —

Will Knight, WIRED, 2 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for sentience

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