sensitivity
sen‧si‧tiv‧i‧ty /ˌsensəˈtɪvəti, ˌsensɪˈtɪvəti/
noun (plural sensitivities)
His comments show a lack of sensitivity.
Interviewing victims of crime must be done with sensitivity.
a teacher with great sensitivity
sensitivity to
She has always shown a sensitivity to audience needs and tastes.
2. SITUATION/SUBJECT [uncountable] when a situation or subject needs to be dealt with carefully because it is secret or may offend people:
It’s a matter of great political sensitivity.
3. BODY’S REACTION [uncountable and countable] when someone reacts badly to a particular food, substance, animal etc and becomes ill:
food sensitivity
sensitivity to
Many children have a sensitivity to cow’s milk.
4. EASILY OFFENDED [uncountable] when someone is easily upset or offended by things that people say
5. sensitivities [plural] someone’s feelings and the fact that they could be upset or offended:
racial sensitivities
6. ART/MUSIC ETC [uncountable and countable] the quality of being able to express emotions through art, literature etc
7. REACTION TO CHANGES [uncountable] the ability to react to very small changes in light, heat, movement etc:
The sensitivity of the detector can be increased.
8. REACTION TO NEW SITUATIONS [uncountable and countable] the fact of quickly reacting to new situations:
the market’s price sensitivity
sen‧si‧tiv‧i‧ty /ˌsensəˈtɪvəti, ˌsensɪˈtɪvəti/
noun (plural sensitivities) Word Family: adjective: sensible, insensible, senseless, sensitive ≠ insensitive, sensory, nonsensical, insensate; noun: sense ≠ nonsense, sensibility ≠ insensibility, sensitivity ≠ insensitivity, senselessness, sensitization, sensor; adverb: sensibly, senselessly, sensitively ≠ insensitively; verb: sense, sensitize
1. UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE [singular, uncountable] the ability to understand other people’s feelings and problems: sensitivity to
2. SITUATION/SUBJECT [uncountable] when a situation or subject needs to be dealt with carefully because it is secret or may offend people:
3. BODY’S REACTION [uncountable and countable] when someone reacts badly to a particular food, substance, animal etc and becomes ill:
sensitivity to
4. EASILY OFFENDED [uncountable] when someone is easily upset or offended by things that people say
5. sensitivities [plural] someone’s feelings and the fact that they could be upset or offended:
6. ART/MUSIC ETC [uncountable and countable] the quality of being able to express emotions through art, literature etc
7. REACTION TO CHANGES [uncountable] the ability to react to very small changes in light, heat, movement etc:
8. REACTION TO NEW SITUATIONS [uncountable and countable] the fact of quickly reacting to new situations: