sensible

/ˈsɛn.sɪ.bəl/

//ˈsɛn.sɪ.bəl// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"sensible" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“sensible” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #7,393 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#7,393
frequency rank, English
8
letters
13
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Acting with or showing good sense; able to make good judgements based on reason or wisdom, or reflecting such ability.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

sensible vs sensibly
88% similar
sensible vs senile
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for sensible
PropertyValue
Headwordsensible
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈsɛn.sɪ.bəl/
Letters8
Frequency rank#7,393
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “sensible” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). sensible lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for sensible is 8 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈsɛn.sɪ.bəl/. Corpus data places it at rank #7,393 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for sensible, with forms such as "esnsible", "senisble", and "sennsible". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "sensibly", "senile", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin sēnsibilis (“perceptible by the senses, having feeling, sensible”), from sentiō (“to feel, perceive”). The correct English form is sensible, spelled S-E-N-S-I-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Acting with or showing good sense; able to make good judgements based on reason or wisdom, or reflecting such ability.
  2. 2
    Characterized more by usefulness, practicality, or comfort than by attractiveness, formality, or fashionableness, especially of clothing.
  3. 3
    Able to be sensed by the senses or the psyche; able to be perceived.
  4. 4
    Able to feel or perceive.
  5. 5
    Liable to external impression; easily affected; sensitive.
  6. 6
    Of or pertaining to the senses; sensory.
  7. 7
    Cognizant; having the perception of something; aware of something.

Etymology

From Latin sēnsibilis (“perceptible by the senses, having feeling, sensible”), from sentiō (“to feel, perceive”).

This word in other languages

razonable(Español)sensible(Français)wahrnehmbar(Deutsch)sensato(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: esnsible,senisble,sennsible,sensable,sensbile,sensibble,sensibel,sensiblle,sensilbe,senssible,sesnible,snesible,ssensible

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of sensible - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

esnsible2senisble2sennsible1sensable1sensbile2sensibble1sensibel2sensiblle1
Edit distance from "sensible"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "sensible"?
"sensible" is spelled S-E-N-S-I-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɛn.sɪ.bəl/.
What does "sensible" mean?
As an adjective, "sensible" means: Acting with or showing good sense; able to make good judgements based on reason or wisdom, or reflecting such ability.
What words are commonly confused with "sensible"?
"sensible" is commonly confused with "sensibly", "senile". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "sensible"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "sensible" is /ˈsɛn.sɪ.bəl/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "sensible"?
From Latin sēnsibilis (“perceptible by the senses, having feeling, sensible”), from sentiō (“to feel, perceive”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “sensible”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-E-N-S-I-B-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈsɛn.sɪ.bəl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “sensibly” - see the side-by-side comparison. sensible vs sensibly
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list