Meaning & use
synesthesia
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Meaning
noununcountabletechnicalmedical
A neurological condition in which one sense automatically triggers an experience in another sense, such as seeing colors when hearing sounds.
Grammar: Uncountable; no plural. Use 'a form of synesthesia' or 'types of synesthesia'.
Patterns
- have synesthesia
- a form of synesthesia
- people with synesthesia
People with synesthesia may taste words or see music as colors.
Her synesthesia means that every letter of the alphabet has a fixed color.
Researchers study synesthesia to understand how the brain links the senses.
Common combinations
- a form of synesthesia
- Grapheme-color synesthesia is a form of synesthesia in which letters and numbers appear colored.
- people with synesthesia
- People with synesthesia often assume everyone experiences the world the same way.
- develop synesthesia
- Some people develop synesthesia after a stroke or other brain injury.
- a type of synesthesia
- Sound-to-color is a common type of synesthesia.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cross-sensory perception
- A descriptive phrase rather than a medical term; it emphasizes the crossing of senses but is not the standard clinical name.
Word family
- synesthetic adjective
- Relating to or experiencing synesthesia.
- synesthete noun
- A person who has synesthesia.
Commonly confused: synesthesia or anesthesia?
synesthesia vs anesthesia
Anesthesia means loss of feeling or sensation, often medically induced; synesthesia is a joining of senses, not a loss.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'synesthesia' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Synesthesia is a condition where senses mix, so seeing numbers as colors is a correct use. Option A describes anesthesia (loss of feeling), option C confuses it with 'synergy' (merging), and option D uses the wrong article and meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “synesthesia”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.