Etymologically
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sensational

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Pronunciation

  • /sɛnˈseɪʃənəl/, /sɛnˈseɪʃnəl/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English sensation + -al.[2][3][4] Etymonline takes it from the noun in its secondary sense of excitement.[5] sensation is from French sensation, also sēnsātiō (“perception”), from Late Latin sēnsātus (“endowed with sense”), from Latin sēnsus (“feeling”), the source of sense.[5][6][7] The OED also counts Italian sensazione as a source of the noun.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

In philosophy, of the doctrine that all knowledge comes from the senses: 1801, in the Annual Register.[2] Etymonline and Merriam-Webster date the adjective from 1840, in the sense "relating to sensation or the senses".[5][8]

Semantic evolution

The plain sense "relating to the senses, sensory" is recorded from 1807.[2] The sense that has become the main one followed the noun sensation, which had meant a wave of public interest and excitement since 1765, and a thrilling or shocking event or person since 1860.[2] Sensational was used of popular literature and journalism that aimed at a strong emotional response, often at the expense of other qualities, from 1859 (the OED) or 1863 (Etymonline).[2][5] From 1898 it described anything that caused great excitement in an audience or the public,[2] and since 1909, colloquially, anything very remarkable or very good.[2][9] As a noun, the sensational meant sensational matter from 1855, and in the United States sensationals were sensational newspapers and books from 1861 to 1913.[2]

Timeline

  • 1801 – in philosophy, of the theory that knowledge comes only from the senses.[2]
  • 1807 – relating to the senses.[2]
  • 1840 – date given by Etymonline and Merriam-Webster.[5][8]
  • 1855 – the sensational, sensational matter.[2]
  • 1859 – of literature or journalism, meant to provoke strong emotion.[2]
  • 1898 – causing great public excitement.[2]
  • 1909 – colloquial, very remarkable, very good.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Causing, or meant to cause, strong curiosity, shock or excitement, often by lurid or exaggerated details: a sensational account of the trial.[9][8][2]
  2. Causing great public interest; spectacular.[8][2]
  3. (informal) Very good; outstanding: The band was sensational last night.[9][2][3]
  4. Relating to sensation or the senses.[9][8][2]
  5. (philosophy) Relating to sensationalism, the theory that knowledge comes only from the senses.[9][2]

Word family

  • sensationally
  • sensationalism
  • sensationalize
  • sensationalise
  • unsensational

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
  5. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (online 2024), 5th ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  8. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  9. ^ a b c d e Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins