sensual

UK: /ˈsɛnʃʊəl/ US: /ˈsɛnʃuəl/ ,(sen′sho̅o̅ əl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sen•su•al /ˈsɛnʃuəl/   adj. 

1. suggesting or arousing the appetites, esp. the sexual appetite:
   her sensual body.
2. devoted to or preoccupied with physical pleasure, esp. sexual satisfaction:
   a lazy, sensual person.
3. of or relating to the senses; sensory.

sen•su•al•i•ty /ˌsɛnʃuˈælɪti/  n. [uncountable]
sen•su•al•ly, adv.: 

She whispered sensually in his ear.

See -sens-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sen•su•al  (sen′sho̅o̅ əl), adj. 

1. pertaining to, inclined to, or preoccupied with the gratification of the senses or appetites;
   carnal;
   fleshly.
2. lacking in moral restraints;
   lewd or unchaste.
3. arousing or exciting the senses or appetites.
4. worldly;
   materialistic;
   irreligious.
5. of or pertaining to the senses or physical sensation;
   sensory.
6. pertaining to the philosophical doctrine of sensationalism.

• Latin sēnsuālis, equivalent. to sēnsu-, stem of sēnsus sense + -ālis -al¹
• late Middle English 1400–50

sen′su•al•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. Sensual, sensuous, voluptuous refer to experience through the senses.
  Sensual refers, often unfavorably, to the enjoyments derived from the senses, esp. from the gratification or indulgence of physical appetites:
  a sensual delight in eating; sensual excesses.
  Sensuous refers, favorably or literally, to what is experienced through the senses:
  sensuous impressions; sensuous poetry.
  Voluptuous implies the luxurious gratification of sensuous or sensual desires:
  voluptuous joys; voluptuous beauty.
  See also carnal. 
• 2. lascivious.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sensual / ˈsɛnsjʊəl/ adjective

1. of or relating to any of the senses or sense organs; bodily
2. strongly or unduly inclined to gratification of the senses
3. tending to arouse the bodily appetites, esp the sexual appetite

Etymology: 15th Century: from Late Latin sensuālis, from Latin sēnsus sense. Compare French sensuel, Italian sensuale

ˈsensually adverb