English · Word Candidate

stimulus

/ˈstɪm.jə.ləs/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: stimuluses · stimuli

Sense 1

Meaning · English

An external phenomenon that has an influence on a system, by triggering or modifying an internal phenomenon; for example, a spur or incentive that drives a person to take action or change behaviour.

Noun

Examples

an economic stimulus

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Something external that elicits or influences a physiological or psychological activity or response, or that affects any of the sensory apparatuses.

Noun

Examples

Even light nonpainful stimuli can provoke or exacerbate spontaneous pain; this is not limited to tactile, thermal, or vibratory stimuli, because auditory, visual, olfactory, and visceral stimuli also may be problematic.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “stimulus” mean?

An external phenomenon that has an influence on a system, by triggering or modifying an internal phenomenon; for example, a spur or incentive that drives a person to take action or change behaviour.

Is “stimulus” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.