sensitization

American  

[sen-si-tuh-zey-shuhn] / ˌsɛn sɪ təˈzeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the state or process of being sensitized.

2. Psychology. the process of becoming susceptible to a given stimulus that previously had no effect or significance.

3. Immunology.

   1. a state or condition in which a previously encountered foreign substance triggers an immune reaction.

   2. an immunologic state or condition that is evidenced by the acquired ability of a cell or individual to detect the presence of a foreign substance upon reexposure to the substance and to react immunologically.

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Other Word Forms

• nonsensitization noun
• resensitization noun

Etymology

Origin of sensitization

First recorded in 1885–90; sensitize + -ation

Explanation

Feeling more sensitive these days? It might be the result of sensitization, the process of making someone react to something that previously had no effect. The noun sensitization is formed from the verb sensitize, which in turn comes from the adjective sensitive, meaning "capable of sensation." In psychology talk, a person might develop a sensitization from an emotional situation. For example, a child who is verbally bullied on a regular basis might, through constant fear of attack, develop a sensitization toward other children and become more withdrawn.

Example Sentences

"More specifically, if they have unexpected episodes of severe abdominal pain occurring several hours after eating mammalian meat, they should be investigated for possible sensitization to the oligosaccharide alpha-gal."

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

About eight years ago, I was actually making a different film following the work of the Center for Health and Social Justice, an organization that works on gender sensitization programs for men and boys.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2024

Habituation and sensitization are types of so-called nonassociative learning, as they don’t require connections between two different stimulus types in order to generate a response.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 22, 2023

They called it the incentive sensitization theory of addiction.

From Scientific American • May 4, 2023

This is the so-called food sensitization or food allergy.

From Food Poisoning by Jordan, Edwin Oakes