sensitization

US: /ˌsɛnsɪtəˈzeɪʃən/ ,(sen′si tə zā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sen•si•ti•za•tion  (sen′si tə zā′shən), n. 

1. Psychology the state or process of being sensitized.
2. Psychology the process of becoming susceptible to a given stimulus that previously had no effect or significance.
3. Immunology
   • a state or condition in which a previously encountered foreign substance triggers an immune reaction.
   • an immunologic state or condition that is evidenced by the acquired ability of a cell or individual to detect the presence of a foreign substance upon reexposure to the substance and to react immunologically.

• sensitize + -ation 1885–90

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

sen•si•tize /ˈsɛnsɪˌtaɪz/   v. [~ + object] , -tized, -tiz•ing. 

1. to make aware or responsive: [often: ~ + object + to]
   to sensitize teachers to the needs of their students.
2. to be sensitive electronically:
   The floormat has been sensitized so that it triggers an alarm when you walk on it.

sen•si•ti•za•tion /ˌsɛnsɪtəˈzeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -sens-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sen•si•tize  (sen′si tīz′), v., -tized, -tiz•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to render sensitive.
2. Photography to render (a film or the like) sensitive to light or other forms of radiant energy.
3. Immunology to render sensitive to an antigenic substance.

v.i. 

4. to become sensitized.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] sen′si•tise′. 

• sensit(ive) + -ize 1855–60

sen′si•tiz′er, n.