English Lexicon

Sensitivity

/ˌsɛn.sɪˈtɪv.ɪ.ti/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The quality of being sensitive; the capacity to respond to physical stimuli or emotional feelings.

    "Her sensitivity to criticism made her hesitant to share her work."
  2. 2

    The degree to which a person or organism can detect or respond to stimuli.

    "The sensitivity of the instrument allows it to measure even the slightest changes in temperature."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'sensitivity' originates from the Latin 'sensitivus', meaning 'capable of feeling', which evolved through Middle French 'sensibilité' in the 18th century, reflecting a shift towards emotional and physical responsiveness in modern usage.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Sensitivity"?

Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Sensitivity"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Sensitivity" Synonym Map