synesthesia

noun

syn·​es·​the·​sia ˌsi-nəs-ˈthē-zh(ē-)ə 

1

: a concomitant sensation

especially : a subjective sensation or image of a sense (as of color) other than the one (as of sound) being stimulated

2

: the condition marked by the experience of such sensations

synesthetic

ˌsi-nəs-ˈthe-tik 

adjective

Examples of synesthesia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Speaking of Lego as a medium, watching the movie I was struck by how that sort of fed into Pharrell’s synesthesia. —Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 13 Oct. 2024

The synesthesia scene was crucial in conveying Williams’ childlike innocence and sense of wonder. —Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 11 Oct. 2024

Emily Makowski, a copy editor at Scientific American, describes her ticker-tape synesthesia—the fascinating brain process whereby spoken words run across the mind’s eye like closed captioning. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, 3 Sep. 2024

And then there’s Lena Leonard (Emily Watson), who looks at Barry and sees a harmony, her desire setting off a love story where the senses blur together like the whole film has been touched by synesthesia. —Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from syn- + -esthesia (as in anesthesia)

First Known Use

circa 1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

synesthesia

noun

syn·​es·​the·​sia

variants or chiefly British synaesthesia

ˌsin-əs-ˈthē-zh(ē-)ə 

: a concomitant sensation and especially a subjective sensation or image of a sense (as of color) other than the one (as of sound) being stimulated

also : the condition marked by the experience of such sensations

synesthetic adjective

or chiefly British synaesthetic

-ˈthet-ik