Word family noun sense ≠ nonsense sensibility ≠ insensibility sensitivity ≠ insensitivity senselessness sensitization sensor adjective sensible insensible senseless sensitive ≠ insensitive sensory nonsensical insensate verb sense sensitize adverb sensibly senselessly sensitively ≠ insensitively
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsensitivitysen‧si‧tiv‧i‧ty /ˌsensəˈtɪvəti/ ●○○ noun (plural sensitivities) 1 understanding people [singular, uncountable] the ability to understand other people’s feelings and problems His comments show a lack of sensitivity. Interviewing victims of crime must be done with sensitivity. a teacher with great sensitivitysensitivity 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 [countable, uncountable] when someone reacts badly to a particular food, substance, animal etc and becomes ill food sensitivitysensitivity 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 say5 → sensitivities6 art/music etc [countable, uncountable] 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 [countable, uncountable] the fact of quickly reacting to new situations the market’s price sensitivityExamples from the Corpus
sensitivity• There's a sensitivity in his music that is remarkable for someone so young.• These laboratory studies have none the less provided some evidence of relationships between risk and sensitivity.• But apparent ease of transition has been achieved only with much thought and sensitivity.• Rashes and difficulty in breathing can be a result of a chemical sensitivity.• Counselling sensitivity and insight can often be of more value than strictly medical knowledge.• Her sensitivity to every type of sensation in the world around her pulls her in many directions at once.• The response of the world's climate to the eruption confirmed predictions of high sensitivity to such events.• Women have a particular sensitivity to the inherent tension here.• Female employees praise Moore's sensitivity to women's issues.• She wore a sunbleached purple turban and presented fingernails long enough to make the spine shiver in sympathetic sensitivity.• Dear Raju, how can I thank you enough for the sensitivity of your soul and of your tiny feet?• He misjudged the sensitivity of many Hispanics on the issue.• the sensitivity of the telescope's instrumentsgreat sensitivity• He had a real love of children's work and a great sensitivity and insight into its many different qualities.• What may be needed is a greater sensitivity to the structural issues to be resolved by the generation of goodwill resources.• For greater sensitivity we then performed Southern hybridisation and probing.• An instrument of greater sensitivity, and possibly one which can be read more accurately, might be needed.• Regarding increased supervisor sensitivity, I agree that great sensitivity is needed, even vital.• Negative feedback inhibition would therefore explain the greater sensitivity of amylase secretion for the detection of pancreatic disease.• The leader acts with greater sensitivity to soften the impact of downward power.• They observe with great sensitivity the dramas, rhythms, and presence of place.From Longman Business Dictionarysensitivitysen‧si‧tiv‧i‧ty /ˌsensəˈtɪvəti/ noun [uncountable]1the degree to which something is likely to be affected by something elseBecause of their sensitivity to aluminum ingot prices, both companies expect a fall in profits.Particular areas of sensitivity include future profits and asset values.2the quality information has if it needs to be kept secret, and not available to everyonethe sensitivity of data such as email 