proprioception

English

WOTD – 26 August 2009

Etymology

From proprioceptor, from Latin proprius (“one's own”) +‎ reception. Coined by British neurophysiologist Charles Scott Sherrington in 1906.[1]

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌpɹəʊ.pɹi.əʊˈsɛp.ʃən/
    • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌpɹoʊ.pɹi.oʊˈsɛp.ʃən/
  • Hyphenation: pro‧prio‧cep‧tion

Noun

proprioception (countable and uncountable, plural proprioceptions)

  1. The sense of the position of parts of the body, relative to other neighbouring parts of the body.
    • 2003, James Stark, Bel Canto: A History of Vocal Pedagogy, University of Toronto Press, →ISBN, page 30:
      […] it is achieved through a neuromuscular feedback system known as proprioception or kinaesthetic awareness, as well as through an auditory control system in which the ear monitors the sound and makes […]
    • 2024 July 18, Joel Snape, “The power of proprioception: how to improve your ‘sixth sense’ – and become healthier and happier”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎[1], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 18 October 2026:
      Sometimes referred to as our sixth sense, proprioception is what helps high-level athletes take a penalty without looking at the ball, or orient themselves in the air while doing a twisting somersault.

Synonyms

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

Translations

sense of the position of parts of the body — see also kinesthesia

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “proprioceptor”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Further reading

French

Pronunciation

Noun

proprioception f (plural proprioceptions)

  1. proprioception

Further reading

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