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

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

Barns-Graham, who had synesthesia, left behind pages filled with letters turned into colors. —Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 July 2024

But how does a play evoke synesthesia, a phenomenon in which the senses entwine in atypical ways, allowing for perceptions like smelling sounds or tasting colors? —Celia Wren, Washington Post, 4 July 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