sentient

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "sentient" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something with the ability to feel, perceive, or experience subjectively. For example, "The sentient creatures of the forest coexist in harmony."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Anyone halfway sentient will surely read those words and wonder: who decides?

The Guardian - Opinion

There was no Manichean divide, but a subtler sense of our relationship to other sentient animals, the narrative we share.

The Guardian - Opinion

From sentient marine mammals to apparently downed airliners and the drastic effects of climate change, the world's oceans, and what we do to them, may be the last great battleground.

The Guardian - Opinion

The concern, as I see it, is over accepting the dual truth that robots will in all likelihood be sentient beings with an inner life just as ourselves, and they will live in grinding inescapable poverty.I think both Mr Drum and Mr Smith are failing to integrate one more special factor about the artificial-intelligence revolution, though.

The Economist

These firms are the undead: partly sentient (with little prospect of new business, many have fired the bulk of their staff); hard to kill off; and ubiquitous.In this section A bungled bank raid The financial-repression levy Hot air And the winner is… Evasive action Us? Risky?

The Economist

IN HIS poignant tale of human empathy and compassion ("Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"), the late science-fiction writer Philip K. Dick explored the defining characteristics that distinguish human beings from sentient machines.

The Economist

This is because to accept animal rights (or fetus rights), one must have a more expansive conception of what sorts of beings have rights than those who reject animal rights (or fetus rights)—and because fetuses and animals seem to share most of the same morally relevant properties (e.g., they are both sentient, but neither are intelligent).

The Economist

They also need to create co-operative file systems that work globally, and they need to make it easy for sentient applications to find network printers and screens that are close to users.

The Economist

But Dr Hopper has been wearing a location tracking device for the past 12 years and has learned to live with the loss of privacy and to appreciate its benefits.Instead of users being tracked constantly, how about using "permission-based" sentient applications, where users have to opt in if they want the benefits?

The Economist

As computing plays an increasing part in people's lives, much research is being focused on making computers genuinely friendlier and more useful.This is why "sentient computing" has begun to capture people's attention.

The Economist

The pile of remote control units makes a clear statement that there must be a better way of telling machines what you want.Another reason why sentient computing is becoming popular is that the technology is at last getting good enough to make it all happen if not now, then at least with computing, communications and storage technologies that are on the near-term horizon.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sentient" when you want to emphasize the capacity for feeling, perception, and subjective experience, particularly in discussions about artificial intelligence, animal rights, or philosophy.

Common error

While "sentient" implies awareness and the ability to experience feelings, it's not synonymous with "conscious". Consciousness is a broader term that refers to the state of being aware of oneself and one's surroundings. "Sentient" beings are conscious, but not all conscious beings are necessarily sentient. For example, a simple organism might be conscious of light but not sentient in the way a mammal is.

Linguistic Context

The word "sentient" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe beings or entities capable of experiencing sensations, feelings, or consciousness. Ludwig examples show its usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "sentient" is an adjective that describes the ability to experience feelings and sensations. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is grammatically correct and appropriate in various contexts. It frequently appears in News & Media and Science, and demonstrates a register that ranges from neutral to formal. When using "sentient", remember that it specifically refers to the capacity for feeling and perception, which isn't identical to consciousness or sapience. Consider alternatives such as "conscious being" or "aware entity" to capture slightly different meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sensitive creature

Highlights the ability to experience and respond to subtle stimuli or emotions.

feeling creature

Underscores the capacity for experiencing emotions and sensations.

self-aware being

Highlights the understanding of oneself as an individual, distinct from others.

conscious being

Focuses on the state of awareness, rather than the capacity for sensation and feeling.

thinking entity

Emphasizes the capacity for thought and reasoning.

aware entity

Emphasizes the entity's perception of its surroundings and internal state.

intelligent life

Emphasizes the intellectual capabilities of the entity.

sapient lifeform

Highlights intelligence and wisdom as key characteristics.

perceptive organism

Stresses the ability to perceive and understand information.

responsive individual

Focuses on the capacity to react to stimuli and interact with the environment.

FAQs

How can I use "sentient" in a sentence?

Use "sentient" to describe beings capable of experiencing feelings and sensations. For example, "Scientists are exploring the possibility of creating "sentient machines"" or "The novel explores the ethical implications of interacting with "sentient aliens"".

What words can I use instead of "sentient"?

Alternatives to "sentient" include "conscious being", "aware entity", or "feeling creature" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it accurate to describe a computer program as "sentient"?

Describing a computer program as "sentient" is a complex issue. Currently, no computer program has achieved true sentience, which involves subjective experience and self-awareness. However, the term is often used speculatively in science fiction to describe advanced AI that mimics these qualities.

What is the difference between "sentient" and "sapient"?

"Sentient" refers to the ability to experience feelings and sensations, while "sapient" refers to the capacity for wisdom and intelligence. A being can be sentient without being sapient, and vice versa, though the terms are often used together to describe highly intelligent and self-aware beings.