sensitive

[ sen-si-tiv ]

adjective

1. endowed with sensation; having perception through the senses.
2. readily or excessively affected by external agencies or influences.
3. having acute mental or emotional sensibility; aware of and responsive to the feelings of others.
4. easily pained, annoyed, etc.
5. pertaining to or connected with the senses or sensation.
6. Physiology. having a low threshold of sensation or feeling.
7. responding to stimuli, as leaves that move when touched.
8. highly responsive to certain agents, as photographic plates, films, or paper.
9. affected or likely to be affected by a specified stimulus (used in combination):

   price-sensitive markets.

10. involving work, duties, or information of a highly secret or delicate nature, especially in government:

    a sensitive position in the State Department.

11. requiring tact or caution; delicate; touchy:

    a sensitive topic.

12. constructed to indicate, measure, or be affected by small amounts or changes, as a balance or thermometer.
13. Radio. easily affected by external influences, especially by radio waves.

noun

1. a person who is sensitive.
2. a person with psychic powers; medium.

sensitive

/ ˈsɛnsɪtɪv /

adjective

1. having the power of sensation
2. responsive to or aware of feelings, moods, reactions, etc
3. easily irritated; delicate

   sensitive skin

4. affected by external conditions or stimuli
5. easily offended
6. of or relating to the senses or the power of sensation
7. capable of registering small differences or changes in amounts, quality, etc

   a sensitive instrument

8. photog having a high sensitivity

   a sensitive emulsion

9. connected with matters affecting national security, esp through access to classified information
10. (of a stock market or prices) quickly responsive to external influences and thus fluctuating or tending to fluctuate

Derived Forms

• ˈsensitively, adverb
• ˈsensitiveness, noun

Other Words From

• sensi·tive·ly adverb
• non·sensi·tive adjective
• non·sensi·tive·ly adverb
• non·sensi·tive·ness noun
• ultra·sensi·tive adjective
• ultra·sensi·tive·ly adverb
• un·sensi·tive adjective
• un·sensi·tive·ly adverb
• un·sensi·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sensitive¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Medieval Latin sēnsitīvus, irregular formation from Latin sēns(us) “felt” (past participle of sentīre “to feel”) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English sensitif(e), from Middle French sensitif, sensitive, from Medieval Latin, as above; sense

Word History and Origins

Origin of sensitive¹

C14: from Medieval Latin sēnsitīvus, from Latin sentīre to feel

Example Sentences

The way the documentary finds harmony between the humor of the characters’ unexpected behavior and the sensitive issues it tackles struck Danson and Schur.

From Los Angeles Times

Many posts, comments and articles about the Zhuhai incident have been censored in recent days, as officials limit discussion of what appears to have been deemed as a politically sensitive topic.

From BBC

Intimacy coordinators are the professionals who help actors navigate scenes involving nudity, simulated sex and other sensitive scenarios on set.

From Los Angeles Times

Premier Li's death was sensitive to the party not only because it was sudden and unexpected - but also because he was the last of the old liberal wing.

From BBC

The private members' bill was put forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater but the deeply sensitive nature of this issue has split politicians in all major parties.

From BBC

Related Words

• conscious
• delicate
• emotional
• hypersensitive
• keen
• nervous
• perceptive
• precise
• receptive
• responsive
• susceptible
• tense
• touchy
• tricky
• unstable