Discriminabilities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The multiple capabilities to discern differences among various stimuli or entities are referred to as such
2. This term encompasses the range of functional distinctions one can make regarding differing features or characteristics
3. It indicates the various levels of perceptual sensitivity humans or animals have in recognizing and responding to diverse inputs

Etymology: "Discriminabilities" is simply the plural of "discriminability," so its history is that of the noun it pluralises. The base word is "discriminable," an adjective meaning able to be told apart from something else, which is formed from "discriminate" with the suffix "-able" added to show capability. The noun "discriminability" names the quality of being discriminable, and the plural form is used when speaking of several such qualities or of their different instances, as in psychology and perception research, where thresholds of telling stimuli apart are measured.