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

Due to its smaller market size, silver exhibits a higher sensitivity to U.S. rates and the dollar.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But the debate has revealed the sensitivities that continue to exist around how to deal with the country's past and the legacy of those who used to govern it.

Read more on BBC

The inquest heard Georgia was an "inquisitive, yet quiet, young person" who "possessed great kindness, sensitivity, and the ability to be truly empathetic".

Read more on BBC

This sensitivity causes the follicles to shrink, leading to shorter and finer strands of hair until growth eventually stops.

Read more on Science Daily

Roman will have the resolution, sensitivity and infrared wavelength coverage to see these stars and potentially witness their variability as they expel out large quantities of dust near the end of their lives.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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