What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
kinaesthetic
Example
The dancer had excellent kinaesthetic awareness, allowing her to perform complex movements with ease. [kinaesthetic: adjective]
Example
The kinaesthetic learner prefers to learn through hands-on activities rather than reading or listening. [kinaesthetic: noun]
somatosensory
Example
The somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing tactile information from the body. [somatosensory: adjective]
Example
The patient experienced a loss of somatosensory function after the accident, making it difficult to feel sensations in his limbs. [somatosensory: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Somatosensory is more commonly used than kinaesthetic in scientific and medical contexts. However, kinaesthetic may be more commonly used in educational and instructional settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between kinaesthetic and somatosensory?
Both kinaesthetic and somatosensory are formal words that are typically used in technical or scientific contexts. However, kinaesthetic may also be used in educational or instructional contexts, which may be less formal.