[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/sensitivity/)

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# sensitivity

noun (sensitivity, sensitivities)

«sensitivity» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Sensitivity is being kind and careful about other people's feelings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/#m1)
2. Sensitivity is how easily something reacts or is hurt: skin sensitivity, sensitivity to light. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/#m2)
3. A sensitivity can be a mild allergy or bad reaction to something, like a food. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/#m3)
4. In science and tools, sensitivity is how well an instrument can notice very small changes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/#m4)
5. The sensitivity of a topic is how likely it is to upset people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/#m5)

### In the lessons

Everyday life and feelings: showing sensitivity when a friend is sad. Health: «gluten sensitivity», «tooth sensitivity» to cold drinks. Science: a sensitive thermometer or microphone notices tiny changes; you can change the sensitivity of a computer mouse. In stories, a character's sensitivity shows they notice how others feel.

### Examples

- She handled the news with great sensitivity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/#x1)
- My teeth have sensitivity to ice cream. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/#x2)
- Some people have a sensitivity to milk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/#x3)
- Turn up the sensitivity of the microphone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/#x4)
- Dogs have amazing sensitivity to smells. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/#x5)
- The teacher talked about the war with sensitivity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/#x6)
- Light sensitivity can come with a headache. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/#x7)

### Note

Countable in the «allergy» sense (sensitivities), otherwise mostly uncountable. Adjective: sensitive. Trap: «sensitive» (easily hurt, aware of feelings) is not the same as «sensible» (showing good sense). False friend for some learners: French «sensible» means sensitive.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sensitivity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensitivity/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sensitivity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sensitivity.html) on Mova free.