sensorily

Sensorily is an English adverb used to describe an action or perception carried out in a way that engages the senses or relates to sensory perception. It is primarily employed in descriptive writing, literary criticism, and fields concerned with perception to indicate attention to sensory detail—what something looks, sounds, feels, smells, or tastes like—rather than abstract analysis. The term is not widely attested in standard dictionaries and is generally considered rare or nonstandard.

Because sensorily is uncommon, writers more often use established alternatives such as sensorially or sensorially to convey the same idea. When choosing terminology, editors and readers may prefer the conventional forms to ensure clarity. Example usage: the prose describes the scene sensorily, emphasizing fragrance, texture, and ambient sound.

Etymology and note on usage: sensorily appears to be a derivative formed in analogy with other sensory terms, but its exact historical attestation is limited. It is related to the broader family of words based on sense or sensory perception, including sensory, sensorial, and sensorily (the latter two being more common in academic or literary contexts). Because of its rarity, sensorily may be perceived as a nonce word in formal writing, and authors are advised to consider more established adverbs to express sensory emphasis.