American Dictionary

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Definition sensitivity in American English

sensitivity noun

noun
/ˌsensəˈtɪvəti/
1

the quality of understanding how someone feels and being careful not to offend them

Example

Delivering bad news requires sensitivity on the doctor's part.

Example

The education system showed no sensitivity to different cultural traditions.

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1.1

the quality of understanding something and being careful not to do anything that harms or damages it

Example

The church has been restored with great sensitivity.

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2

a tendency to have a strong physical reaction to something

Example

The drug can cause sensitivity to sunlight.

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3.1

a natural understanding of something, and a natural reaction to it

Example

his sensitivity to music

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3.2

the feelings of someone who may be offended

Example

We must keep in mind the sensitivities of the victims' families.

4

a situation in which something needs to be dealt with carefully because people could be offended

Example

We're very aware of the sensitivity of the issue.

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5

the ability to measure slight differences in weight, time, temperature, etc.

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Definition sensitivity in American English