sensitive

UK: /ˈsɛnsɪtɪv/ US: /ˈsɛnsɪtɪv/ ,(sen′si tiv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sen•si•tive /ˈsɛnsɪtɪv/   adj. 

1. readily or easily affected by stimuli:
   very sensitive to heat.
2. responsive to the feelings of others:
   sensitive to your needs.
3. showing concern about the situation one is in:
   a sensitive performance by the actor.
4. easily hurt or offended:
   was a sensitive young child.
5. highly secret or delicate:
   sensitive diplomatic issues.

n. [countable]

6. one who is sensitive.

sen•si•tive•ness, n. [uncountable]
sen•si•tiv•i•ty /ˌsɛnsɪˈtɪvɪti/  n. 

[uncountable] the teacher's sensitivity to the needs of her students.

See -sens-.
Usage

See sensible.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sen•si•tive  (sen′si tiv), adj. 

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. Photography 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, esp. 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 and Television easily affected by external influences, esp. by radio waves.

n. 

14. a person who is sensitive.
15. a person with psychic powers;
    medium.

• Medieval Latin, as above
• Middle French sensitif, sensitive
• Medieval Latin sēnsitīvus, irregularly formation on Latin sēns-, past participle stem of sentīre to sense (see -ive); replacing Middle English sensitif(e)
• 1350–1400

sen′si•tive•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sensitive / ˈsɛnsɪtɪv/ adjective

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

Etymology: 14th Century: from Medieval Latin sēnsitīvus, from Latin sentīre to feel

ˈsensitively adverb