Country Dictionary

A word commonly confused with sapient, self-aware, conscious. Sentient merely means "having senses; capable of sensing".

Even a lowly rat is fully sentient.

The state of consciousness whereby the individual has that quality which make him capable of questioning his existence.

Human beings are sentient creatures.

The ability to know that you exist, and to be able to think apart from your primal instincts with logic.

A sentient is a living creature, whether it's habitat be land, air, water, or a combination of these. Sentients are sensitive to light, heat etc but most importantly they can feel pain.
Humans, cod, turkeys, crabs, pigs, dogs, rats etc. are all sentient creatures.

Girl - I'm going to get a sentient for my birthday.
Boy - Eh?
Girl - It's the polite way to say pet, pet is so last century.
Boy - What sort of animal will you chose? I've got a dog - he's great.
Girl - Well I've thought a long time about it and I've decided to get a rescued rat.
Boy - Yuk! A rat - you are seriously losing it.
Girl - Why? I all think rodents are lovely.

n: any member of a race (talking in the universe here) possessing the aforementioned abilities

Greetings sentient!

Being aware of something

A door being aware of the sensor picking you up, and thus opening, it is thus sentient

A toaster that has feelings

J: I’m a sentient toaster