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
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
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
Older adults who cycle regularly are likely a healthier subgroup, and cycling may also serve as a marker of favorable genetics, with risk lowest among those without genetic susceptibility to dementia, Verghese said.
—
Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
The study posed that ethnogenetic susceptibility and environmental exposure from pollution or endocrine-disrupting chemicals might be contributing factors.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Disruptions like this demonstrate the susceptibility of our existing navigation systems.
—Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Catherine Stein, who studies genetic and environmental susceptibility to tuberculosis at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for susceptibility
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.
Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
The study posed that ethnogenetic susceptibility and environmental exposure from pollution or endocrine-disrupting chemicals might be contributing factors.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Disruptions like this demonstrate the susceptibility of our existing navigation systems.
—Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Catherine Stein, who studies genetic and environmental susceptibility to tuberculosis at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for susceptibility
Cite this Entry
“Susceptibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/susceptibility. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share