sentience. The ability to experience pain, pleasure, and other sensations; the capacity to suffer. Chickens, pigs, cows, rabbits, dogs, cats, rats, monkeys, and elephants, for example, like the vast majority of other animals, are sentient. Capability of detecting changes in one’s personal environment – particularly regarding pain or discomfort. Having a nervous system and capable of responding to stimuli. Sentience is awareness. Sapience is awareness of that awareness.