susceptibility
C1Formal, Academic, Medical, Technical
Definition
Meaning
The state of being easily affected, influenced, or harmed by something.
A specific area of sensitivity or vulnerability; can also refer to a capacity for receiving emotional impressions or the ability to be influenced by something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Usually implies a negative vulnerability or a lack of resistance. Often used in scientific, medical, and technical contexts to describe a predisposition. Less commonly used in informal conversation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is identical. No significant grammatical differences. Slightly higher frequency in British English in formal contexts.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. Connotes weakness, vulnerability, or a specific predisposition, depending on context.
Frequency
More common in British academic and medical writing; slightly less frequent in American informal speech but equally common in formal registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
susceptibility to [noun]susceptibility of [noun] to [noun]have a susceptibilityVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Achilles' heel (metaphorically related)”
- “chink in one's armour”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market vulnerability, e.g., 'The company's susceptibility to economic downturns is a concern.'
Academic
Common in scientific and medical research, e.g., 'Studying the genetic susceptibility to certain cancers.'
Everyday
Used less frequently; when used, refers to health or influence, e.g., 'His susceptibility to colds is well-known.'
Technical
Precise measurement in engineering or medicine, e.g., 'The material's susceptibility to corrosion was tested.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- This metal does not suscept easily to rust.
- The treatment aims to suscept the tumour to radiation.
American English
- The alloy is engineered not to suscept to heat damage.
- The new drug suscepts the bacteria, making it vulnerable.
adverb
British English
- The material reacted susceptibly to the chemical.
- He listened susceptibly to their arguments.
American English
- The data is susceptibly arranged for analysis.
- She answered susceptibly during the interview.
adjective
British English
- He is highly susceptible to flattery.
- The coastal region is susceptible to flooding.
American English
- Young children are especially susceptible to the virus.
- The system is susceptible to hacking.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Babies have a high susceptibility to infections.
- Her susceptibility to sunburn means she always wears a hat.
- The study examined the population's susceptibility to respiratory diseases.
- His susceptibility to peer pressure led him to make poor choices.
- Researchers have identified a genetic marker that indicates a susceptibility to Alzheimer's.
- The audit revealed the organisation's susceptibility to financial fraud.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'SUSCEPTible' person being 'CEPTured' or caught easily by something (like an illness). Susceptibility is the state of being that person.
Conceptual Metaphor
VULNERABILITY IS A HOLE/OPENING (e.g., 'a point of susceptibility', 'exploiting a susceptibility').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from Russian 'восприимчивость', which can imply a positive 'receptiveness'. In English, 'susceptibility' is overwhelmingly negative.
- Do not confuse with 'sensitivity' (чувствительность), which is broader and can be physical or emotional.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'susceptibility of' instead of 'susceptibility to' (e.g., 'susceptibility of disease' is incorrect).
- Pronouncing it as /sʌsɛp'tɪbɪlɪti/ (wrong stress).
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'likelihood' or 'chance' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'susceptibility' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Overwhelmingly negative. It denotes a vulnerability, weakness, or lack of resistance to something harmful.
The primary preposition is 'to' (susceptibility to disease). In specific technical contexts, 'of' can be used (e.g., 'the susceptibility of the metal to corrosion').
'Sensitivity' is broader. It can refer to physical reaction (sensitivity to light), emotional delicacy, or precision of an instrument. 'Susceptibility' is specifically about being liable to be harmed or affected by an external agent.
Yes, though it's often uncountable. You can say 'He has several susceptibilities' to mean specific vulnerabilities (e.g., to pollen, to flattery).