noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:S EH0 N S EY1 SH AH0 N AH0 L IH2 Z AH0 M
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The use of sensational subject matter, style or methods, or the sensational subject matter itself; behavior, published materials, or broadcasts that are intentionally controversial, exaggerated, lurid, loud, or attention-grabbing. Especially applied to news media in a pejorative sense that they are reporting in a manner to gain audience or notoriety but at the expense of accuracy and professionalism.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A theory of philosophy that all knowledge is ultimately derived from the senses.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
(philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge derives from experience
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: empiricism, empiricist philosophy
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: philosophical doctrine, philosophical theory
Narrower terms: British empiricism, experimentalism, positivism, logical positivism
4
noun
Meaning 4
(philosophy) the ethical doctrine that feeling is the only criterion for what is good
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sensualism
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: philosophical doctrine, philosophical theory
5
noun
Meaning 5
the journalistic use of subject matter that appeals to vulgar tastes
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the tabloids relied on sensationalism to maintain their circulation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: luridness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: journalese
6
noun
Meaning 6
subject matter that is calculated to excite and please vulgar tastes
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Etymology tree English sensation English -al English sensational Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English sensationalism From sensational + -ism.
Across languages
Translations
19 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
sensacionalisme
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Chinese Mandarin:
炒作
(chǎozuò)
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Dutch:
sensationalisme
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Dutch:
sensatiezucht
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Finnish:
sensaationtavoittelu
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
French:
sensationnalisme
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Georgian:
სენსაციონალიზმი
(sensacionalizmi)
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
German:
Sensationsmache
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Irish:
gáifeachas
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Irish:
scailéathan
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Irish:
táblóideachas
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Manx:
ard-haghyrtys
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Polish:
sensacjonalizm
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Spanish:
sensacionalismo
— use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Chinese Mandarin:
感覺主義 /感觉主义
(gǎnjuézhǔyì)
— philosophy
