Meaning & use
kinesthesis
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountabletechnicalspecialist
The internal sense that tells you where your body parts are and how they are moving.
Grammar: Uncountable, so no plural and no 'a' before it: Kinesthesis helps you touch your nose with your eyes closed.
Patterns
- kinesthesis allows someone to do something
- the sense of kinesthesis
Dancers rely on kinesthesis to know exactly where their limbs are without looking.
After the injury, his kinesthesis was affected, and he had trouble judging the position of his arm.
The study examined how kinesthesis develops in young children.
noununcountabletechnicalspecialistbiology
The perception of body position and movement arising from receptors in muscles, tendons, and joints.
Grammar: Used in scientific contexts; often appears in phrases like 'kinesthesis and proprioception'.
Patterns
- kinesthesis and proprioception
- kinesthetic sense
Physiologists distinguish kinesthesis from the sense of touch, though they work together.
Kinesthesis depends on signals from specialized receptors in the muscles and joints.
The loss of kinesthesis can make even simple tasks like walking difficult.
Common combinations
- sense of kinesthesis
- A well-developed sense of kinesthesis is essential for athletes.
- kinesthesis and balance
- The inner ear contributes to balance, while kinesthesis handles body position.
- rely on kinesthesis
- Surgeons rely on kinesthesis to guide their instruments precisely.
- kinesthesis research
- Kinesthesis research has practical applications in physical therapy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- proprioception
- A more common technical term that overlaps with kinesthesis but often includes the sense of balance and joint position; kinesthesis is sometimes used more narrowly for movement.
- kinesthesia
- The more frequent American spelling of the same term; kinesthesis is a variant spelling that is also accepted.
Word family
- kinesthetic adjective
- Relating to the sense of body movement and position.
- kinesthetically adverb
- In a way that involves the sense of body movement.
Commonly confused: kinesthesis or kinesthesia? kinesthesis or kinesis?
kinesthesis vs kinesthesia
This is the same word with a different spelling, more common in American English. Kinesthesis is an alternative form.
kinesthesis vs kinesis
Kinesis means movement or activity in response to a stimulus, not the sense of body position. It is a different concept.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'kinesthesis' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Kinesthesis is the internal sense of body position and movement, so it makes sense to say someone has a keen kinesthesis. The other options misuse the word as if it were a physical object or an action.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “kinesthesis”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.