sensory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sensory" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to anything related to the senses, such as sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. Example: "The sensory experience of the concert was overwhelming, with vibrant lights and powerful music enveloping the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Opinion

Arts

Books

Music

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Come here for the full sensory camp experience, not for a hung-over cup of joe.

The Guardian - Travel

Particularly frequent or prolonged exposure to very loud sound can permanently damage the ear's sensory cells, causing irreversible hearing loss, and even deafness.

The Guardian

That's what Fragonard's painting The Swing is about – the wonderful joke of the painting is that while the man tries to sneak a look up the swinging woman's skirts, Fragonard's receding, melting, luxuriant garden landscape gives the painting's beholder a sensory evocation of all he longs to see.

The Guardian - Arts

I'm not convinced: the breast, though pleasant enough, is definitely duller than the thigh, which offers a multitude of sensory pleasures.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

While some may long for the muted sensory world of winter – the hushed din and dulled scents of a blanketed metropolis – the city's signature, ebullient blaring tends to correlate with a welcome uptick in the mercury, summer street garbage be damned.

The Guardian - Opinion

You have no idea what you'll eat next and the sensory deprivation really heightens the senses.

The Guardian - Travel

And while a pain nerve has a sensory jurisdiction of roughly a millimetre, an itch nerve can pick up disturbances on the skin over three inches away.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Through sensory description we create and embellish our stories.

The Guardian

Like Mumbai and Iceland, it leaves its print on the mind with a variety of sensory and emotional impacts.

The Guardian - Music

Once in a while, the reader is taken unawares by the author's reverting to standard English, especially in the lyrical "stream of consciousness" passages that describe the coming of summer and its sensual and sensory beauties.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The designers plan to deliver a high-tech multi-sensory experience with an authentic London theme.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing experiences, use "sensory" to highlight the involvement of multiple senses simultaneously, creating a more immersive and vivid depiction for the reader.

Common error

Avoid vague descriptions using only "sensory". Instead, specify which senses are engaged (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) to provide a clearer and more impactful image for your audience.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sensory" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate a connection to the senses or sensation, as seen in Ludwig's examples like "sensory camp experience" or "sensory cells". The Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

29%

The Economist

20%

The Guardian

16%

Less common in

Books

1%

Lifestyle

4%

Travel

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sensory" functions as an adjective to describe experiences, inputs, or mechanisms related to the senses. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and widely applicable in English writing. Its frequency is very common, spanning diverse contexts from news and lifestyle to scientific and technical domains. The best practice is to employ "sensory" to showcase the involvement of several senses for a rich illustration, while avoiding overuse without specific detail. For closely related alternatives, consider "perceptual" or "sensorial", depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sensorial

A more formal synonym emphasizing the involvement of the senses.

perceptual

Focuses more on the mental interpretation of sense data, shifting from the physical sensation to the cognitive process.

relating to sensation

A more descriptive phrase, explicitly stating the connection to the act of sensing.

sense-related

A simpler, more direct compound adjective emphasizing the connection to the senses.

of the senses

A prepositional phrase that describes a thing as related to the senses.

tactile

Specifically related to the sense of touch, limiting the scope compared to "sensory".

auditory

Specifically related to the sense of hearing, limiting the scope compared to "sensory".

visual

Specifically related to the sense of sight, limiting the scope compared to "sensory".

olfactory

Specifically related to the sense of smell, limiting the scope compared to "sensory".

gustatory

Specifically related to the sense of taste, limiting the scope compared to "sensory".

FAQs

How is the word "sensory" typically used in a sentence?

The word "sensory" is used to describe things related to the senses. For example, you might talk about a "sensory" experience or "sensory" details.

What words are similar in meaning to "sensory"?

Alternatives to "sensory" include "perceptual", "sensorial", or "relating to sensation", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to use "sensory" when only one sense is involved?

While "sensory" can refer to a single sense, it's often more impactful to specify the sense, such as "visual" or "auditory", unless you intend to convey the combined effect of multiple senses.

What is the difference between "sensory" and "sensual"?

"Sensory" relates to the senses in general, while "sensual" often implies a connection to physical pleasure or gratification. For example, a "sensory" garden might stimulate all senses, whereas a "sensual" massage focuses on touch and pleasure.