sensitivity

[sen-si-tiv-i-tee]

noun

plural

sensitivities 

1. the state or quality of being sensitive; sensitiveness.

2. Physiology.

   1. the ability of an organism or part of an organism to react to stimuli; irritability.

   2. degree of susceptibility to stimulation.

3. Electricity.

   1. the ability of a radio device to react to incoming signals, expressed as the minimum input signal required to produce a specified output signal with a given noise level.

   2. the input, as voltage, current, or the like, required to produce full deflection in an electric measuring device, expressed as the ratio of the response to the magnitude of the input quantity.

sensitivity

/ ˌsɛnsɪˈtɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being sensitive

2. physiol the state, condition, or quality of reacting or being sensitive to an external stimulus, drug, allergen, etc

3. electronics the magnitude or time of response of an instrument, circuit, etc, to an input signal, such as a current

4. photog the degree of response of an emulsion to light or other actinic radiation, esp to light of a particular colour, expressed in terms of its speed

Other Word Forms

• antisensitivity noun
• nonsensitivity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sensitivity¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; sensitive + -ity

Synonym Study

See sensibility.

Example Sentences

The normal process for government appointments is dependent on the job being given and the sensitivity of the material and information to be handled.

From BBC

Fletcher spent the next year in near-total seclusion, largely unable to leave his house due to light and sound sensitivity.

From Los Angeles Times

The Booker-winning novelist has previously expressed his opposition to "sensitivity readers", the practice of hiring someone to read a manuscript before its publication in order to point out things that might be offensive to readers.

From BBC

The mega-project is not the first in Egypt to draw criticism for a lack of sensitivity to the country's unique history.

From BBC

"She was born in a country that was under Soviet influence, and has a level of sensitivity that maybe others don't have," she said.

From BBC

Related Words

• awareness 
• feeling 
• nervousness 
• sense 
• subtlety 
• sympathy