sensitivity

American  

[sen-si-tiv-i-tee] / ˌsɛn sɪˈtɪv ɪ ti /

noun

• sensitivities
  plural

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 British  

/ 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

---

Synonym Usage

See sensibility.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antisensitivity
  noun
• nonsensitivity
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sensitivities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sensitivity

First recorded in 1795–1805; sensitive + -ity

Explanation

Sensitivity has many shades of meaning but most relate to your response to your environment — either physical or emotional. Sensitivity to cold means you’re quick to notice the slightest chill — in the air or in another person’s actions. A sensitivity to pollen means you’re sneezing any time it’s in the air — you just always seem to react to it. It’s the same with emotions — sensitivity means you pick up on the feelings of others. If you have great sensitivity to your classmates, then you’re aware of their needs and behave in a way that makes them feel good. If you introduce a new policy with sensitivity, that means you consider how others will react to it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sensitivity sensitivities

“He’s probably one of the few men that have the sensitivity to be able to sit for hours and talk about personal stuff,” Cutler recalled of the meeting in his Harvard Square offices.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

The researchers found that greater sensitivity to saturated fat appeared to drive this pattern.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

This will be accentuated by small-cap stocks’ particular sensitivity to moves in bond yields as well as the Nasdaq 100 weakness.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026

In melanoma, the abundance of mutations gives the vaccine more targets to work with, while the tumor’s relative sensitivity to immunotherapy gives those targets a better chance of producing an immune response.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

If a child hears fine music from the day of his birth and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline and endurance.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

The move was not huge, but it shows the sensitivities at a moment when Burnham is overhauling his cabinet.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Both Tan and French agreed that cultural sensitivities need to be respected in treatment.

From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026

But Mr. Ryrie does offer to those readers an interpretation of missions congenial to modern sensitivities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

However, Pasadena officials wanted to ensure the public is not alarmed by any loud noises especially given increased sensitivities during election week, Derderian said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026

Hamilton tried to reassure him that his sensitivities on this score were excessive, that if he did choose to run for a third term, he would win in a walk.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

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