Auditory means relating to hearing or the sense of sound. When a doctor checks your auditory system, they're examining how well your ears work and how your brain processes what you hear. An auditory learner is someone who learns best by listening to information rather than reading it or looking at diagrams.

Your auditory system includes your ears, the nerves that carry sound signals, and the parts of your brain that make sense of those signals. When you close your eyes and identify a bird by its song, recognize your friend's voice in a crowd, or tell which direction a car is coming from, you're using your auditory abilities.

You might encounter it in phrases like auditory memory (remembering things you've heard) or auditory processing (how your brain interprets sounds). Some people have strong auditory skills and can remember song lyrics after hearing them once, while others might find it harder to follow spoken directions and prefer written instructions instead.