sensitivity
Americannoun
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the state or quality of being sensitive; sensitiveness.
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Physiology.
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the ability of an organism or part of an organism to react to stimuli; irritability.
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degree of susceptibility to stimulation.
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Electricity.
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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.
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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.
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noun
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the state or quality of being sensitive
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physiol the state, condition, or quality of reacting or being sensitive to an external stimulus, drug, allergen, etc
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electronics the magnitude or time of response of an instrument, circuit, etc, to an input signal, such as a current
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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
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sensitivity
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.
Vocabulary lists containing sensitivity
"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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Nine, Ten
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poems by Nikki Giovanni
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He said that the franchise's longevity was due to "all the people like you and your parents and your grandparents, because of their intelligence and their sensitivity and their vision" in supporting Gene Roddenberry's concept.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
It’s made of the joy-buzzer energy coming into your palms through the rack-and-pinion steering, the wheel gains heft and braille-like sensitivity as cornering loads and slip angles increase.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Repetitive behaviors, sensory sensitivity, and excessive responses to sensory input also declined.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026
Because dentine contains microscopic channels that lead toward the tooth's nerves, exposure can cause sharp sensitivity to heat, cold, sweetness, or touch.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026
“Ah yes. Like a security blanket, Amelia was using her noise-canceling headphones to soothe her sound sensitivity, making her social isolation worse.”
From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari
“Our annual pricing sensitivities, which are based on a 15 day lag for simplicity, do not account for the steep changes near quarter end,” Beerman says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Dr Overton noted that "access restrictions, damaged infrastructure and political sensitivities" in parts of the Middle East have limited reporting and in some cases suppressed casualty numbers entirely.
From BBC ● 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
The attacks come as sensitivities around migrants have grown in parts of Germany following a large influx of asylum seekers and refugees in 2015.
From Barron's ● May 4, 2026
“Chicken, corn, wheat, and soy can sometimes trigger food sensitivities in cats.”
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
