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

So far, humans have not shown high susceptibility to the H5N1 virus, said Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatric infectious disease expert who directs the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. —Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2024

However, getting the right amount of sun exposure may help lower your susceptibility to developing a condition and improve your overall well-being. —Sukhman Rekhi, Health, 30 July 2024

These patterns of the weakness of supervision and susceptibility to collusion occur frequently with militias elsewhere, such as in Afghanistan. —Vanda Felbab-Brown, Foreign Affairs, 30 Mar. 2018

Lynch syndrome is a hereditary condition linked to higher susceptibility to colorectal cancer and uterine cancer. —Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 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