sensitive

American  

[sen-si-tiv] / ˈsɛn sɪ tɪv /

adjective

1. endowed with sensation; having perception through the senses.

2. readily or excessively affected by external agencies or influences.

3. having acute mental or emotional sensibility; aware of and responsive to the feelings of others.

4. easily pained, annoyed, etc.

5. pertaining to or connected with the senses or sensation.

6. Physiology. having a low threshold of sensation or feeling.

7. responding to stimuli, as leaves that move when touched.

8. highly responsive to certain agents, as photographic plates, films, or paper.

9. affected or likely to be affected by a specified stimulus (used in combination).

   price-sensitive markets.

10. involving work, duties, or information of a highly secret or delicate nature, especially in government.

    a sensitive position in the State Department.

11. requiring tact or caution; delicate; touchy.

    a sensitive topic.

12. constructed to indicate, measure, or be affected by small amounts or changes, as a balance or thermometer.

13. Radio. easily affected by external influences, especially by radio waves.

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noun

1. a person who is sensitive.

2. a person with psychic powers; medium.

sensitive British  

/ ˈsɛnsɪtɪv /

adjective

1. having the power of sensation

2. responsive to or aware of feelings, moods, reactions, etc

3. easily irritated; delicate

   sensitive skin

4. affected by external conditions or stimuli

5. easily offended

6. of or relating to the senses or the power of sensation

7. capable of registering small differences or changes in amounts, quality, etc

   a sensitive instrument

8. photog having a high sensitivity

   a sensitive emulsion

9. connected with matters affecting national security, esp through access to classified information

10. (of a stock market or prices) quickly responsive to external influences and thus fluctuating or tending to fluctuate

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Other Word Forms

• nonsensitive adjective
• nonsensitively adverb
• nonsensitiveness noun
• sensitively adverb
• sensitiveness noun
• ultrasensitive adjective
• ultrasensitively adverb
• unsensitive adjective
• unsensitively adverb
• unsensitiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of sensitive

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Medieval Latin sēnsitīvus, irregular formation from Latin sēns(us) “felt” (past participle of sentīre “to feel”) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English sensitif(e), from Middle French sensitif, sensitive, from Medieval Latin, as above; sense

Example Sentences

The upcoming six-episode series will follow the anti-corruption unit AC-12, after being disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards, as the team members are assigned their most sensitive case so far.

From BBC

Iran has tested its air-defense systems in a recent series of drills focused on responding to possible drone and missile attacks on sensitive locations, including the nuclear sites, according to state-run media.

From The Wall Street Journal

“In practice, enterprises face no challenge accessing models, but they very much struggle today in deploying them reliably on sensitive data, at scale, with auditability, and with clear accountability for outcomes,” Moskowitz wrote.

From MarketWatch

One of the most emotionally sensitive retirement expenses involves adult children.

From MarketWatch

The team determined that changes in satellite instruments and data collection techniques over time made the system more sensitive to thin layers of snow.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• conscious
• delicate
• emotional
• hypersensitive
• keen
• nervous
• perceptive
• precise
• receptive
• responsive
• susceptible
• tense
• touchy
• tricky
• unstable