What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stimuli
Example
The study examined the effects of various stimuli on the participants' brain activity. [stimuli: plural noun]
Example
The teacher used different stimuli to engage the students in the lesson. [stimuli: plural noun]
stimulus
Example
The loud noise was a stimulus for the baby's crying. [stimulus: singular noun]
Example
The reward served as a stimulus for the dog's good behavior. [stimulus: singular noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stimulus is more commonly used than stimuli in everyday language. Stimulus is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while stimuli is less common and typically used in academic or scientific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stimuli and stimulus?
Stimuli is more formal than stimulus. While stimulus can be used in both formal and informal contexts, stimuli is typically associated with a more technical or academic tone.
