Sensual
adjective /ˈsɛnʃʊəl/ — Of the senses — devoted to or expressing physical pleasure and bodily experience.
Definition
Of or arousing gratification of the senses and physical, especially sexual, pleasure; relating to or consisting in the enjoyment of physical sensations.
Beyond the definition
Sensual is often confused with sensuous — but sensual emphasizes the appetite and the pleasure, while sensuous emphasizes the beauty of what the senses perceive. Sensual is warmer, more physical, more about the body's relationship to experience.
Origin & history
From Late Latin sensualis — relating to the senses (from Latin sensus: sense). The adjective for what belongs to the senses — but specifically their pleasurable engagement with the world.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The meal was sensual — slow, textured, each element considered for how it would feel as much as taste.
She wrote with a sensual attention to surfaces — how things felt under the hand, not just how they looked.
The sensual and the aesthetic are different experiences, though both begin with perception.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Sensual” when the meaning fits your context: Of or arousing gratification of the senses and physical, especially sexual, pleasure; relating to or consisting in the enjoyment of physical sensations.
Synonyms
physical, carnal, voluptuous, sensory, pleasurable
Antonyms
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Savouring rich sauce and bread
An adult in a kitchen holds bread dipped in a rich, simmering sauce, steam rising, reflecting deep sensory pleasure.
The pleasure of the rich sauce and the act of eating focus entirely on physical sensation, capturing the enjoyment of taste and warmth as a sensual experience.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Sensual" mean?
Sensual is adjective meaning: Of the senses — devoted to or expressing physical pleasure and bodily experience.. Of or arousing gratification of the senses and physical, especially sexual, pleasure; relating to or consisting in the enjoyment of physical sensations.
Where does the word "Sensual" come from?
From Late Latin sensualis — relating to the senses (from Latin sensus: sense). The adjective for what belongs to the senses — but specifically their pleasurable engagement with the world.