susceptibility

noun

sus·​cep·​ti·​bil·​i·​ty sə-ˌsep-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

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

Synonyms

• defenselessness
• vulnerability
• weakness

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

Through how the rats processed this negative-then-positive stimuli, the researchers gained fascinating new insights into individual susceptibility to addiction. —New Atlas, 6 Dec. 2024

Research on the role of genetic factors in cold susceptibility is ongoing. —Sarah Jividen, Health, 1 Dec. 2024

More surprisingly, there are still a significant number of Americans who don’t believe AI affects their susceptibility to digital fraud. —Christophe Van De Weyer, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Seventy years ago, the true believer’s susceptibility to the sleeper effect warned us of the power of Trump’s methods and messages today. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

susceptibility

noun

sus·​cep·​ti·​bil·​i·​ty sə-ˌsep-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

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 

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