synesthesia

noun

syn·​es·​the·​sia ˌsi-nəs-ˈthē-zh(ē-)ə How to pronounce synesthesia (audio)
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 How to pronounce synesthesia (audio)
adjective

Examples of synesthesia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Four-beat line to open, leaning blue, and—synesthesia—right at the jump. — Literary Hub, 5 June 2026 Dearmore did some research and discovered this is called synesthesia. — Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025 Many commenters on the video have suggested that Emmett may be experiencing a form of synesthesia. — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025 It was best described as an interesting variant in human experience, like synesthesia. — Larissa MacFarquhar, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for synesthesia

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of synesthesia was circa 1891

Rhymes for synesthesia

See All Rhymes for synesthesia

Browse Nearby Words

synesis
synesthesia
synesthete
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Synesthesia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synesthesia. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

synesthesia

noun
syn·​es·​the·​sia
variants or chiefly British synaesthesia
ˌsin-əs-ˈthē-zh(ē-)ə How to pronounce synesthesia (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce synesthesia (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on synesthesia

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about synesthesia

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