What does "sensitivity" mean?
The quality or state of being sensitive; sensitiveness.
Sensitivity
/ˌsɛn.səˈtɪv.ə.ti/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The quality or state of being sensitive; sensitiveness.
- Grammar: sensitivity is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: sensibility, acuity, acuteness, affectivity.
- Useful contrasts: anesthesia, benumbing, callousness.
- Usage evidence: His stern tone and loud voice belied his inner sensitivity and caring nature.
How to use "sensitivity"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "sensitivity" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "sensitivity" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "sensitivity" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "sensitivity" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "sensitivity" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "sensibility" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "sensitivity", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The quality or state of being sensitive; sensitiveness. countable, uncountable
"In any event, the incident, and the media attention it attracted, highlights the sensitivity of language politics in Singapore and is reflective of the fact that this sensitivity extends to campus life."
- 2 the ability to respond to affective changes in your interpersonal environment wordnet
- 3 The ability of an organism or organ to respond to external stimuli. countable, uncountable
"The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail."
- 4 the ability to respond to physical stimuli or to register small physical amounts or differences wordnet
- 5 The ability of an organism or organ to respond to external stimuli.; Vulnerability to medical treatment: Synonym of susceptibility. countable, uncountable
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 (physiology) responsiveness to external stimuli; the faculty of sensation wordnet
- 7 The probability, in a binary classification test, of a true positive being correctly identified. countable, uncountable
"Coordinate term: specificity"
- 8 sensitivity to emotional feelings (of self and others) wordnet
- 9 The degree of response of an instrument to a change in an input signal. countable, uncountable
"Up to 1,884 microplastic particles were found per cubic metre of seawater in some locations, up to 18 times higher than in similar tests during the last Ocean Race, which ended in 2018. Scientists noted that the sensitivity of their instruments is now higher."
- 10 susceptibility to a pathogen wordnet
- 11 The rate at which the player's facing direction or position changes relative to input device movement. countable, uncountable
"Since he played with high sensitivity, he only needed to move the mouse a tiny distance to rotate a full 360 degrees."
- 12 The degree of response of a film etc. to light of a specified wavelength. countable, uncountable
Example
"His stern tone and loud voice belied his inner sensitivity and caring nature."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "sensitivity"?
Common synonyms include: sensibility, acuity, acuteness, affectivity, agitability, allergies.
How do you use "sensitivity" in a sentence?
His stern tone and loud voice belied his inner sensitivity and caring nature.
How do you pronounce "sensitivity"?
Pronounced /ˌsɛn.səˈtɪv.ə.ti/.
Etymology
From sensitive + -ity.