sensitivity
gb/sˌɛnsɪtˈɪvɪti/ us/sˌɛnsɪtˈɪvɪti/
B2
English
~ 6500
érzékenység, tapintat, intolerancia, kényesség, szenzitivitás
NOUN
B2
1
érzékenység
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s sensitivity to [something]
Her sensitivity to criticism makes it hard for her to read online comments.
A kritikával szembeni érzékenysége miatt nehéz neki online hozzászólásokat olvasnia.
The movie explores a teenager's sensitivity during a difficult time in his life.
A film egy kamasz érzékenységét mutatja be élete nehéz időszakában.
Because of his sensitivity, he often takes casual remarks very personally.
Therapy helped him manage his sensitivity to conflict in relationships.
He admired her artistic sensitivity but worried about how easily she got hurt.
Learner examples
Her sensitivity to loud voices makes her cry easily.
A hangos beszédre való érzékenysége miatt könnyen sírva fakad.
Because of his sensitivity, he feels sad when people speak sharply to him.
Érzékenysége miatt elszomorodik, amikor durván szólnak hozzá.
Teenagers often have strong sensitivity about their appearance.
His sensitivity to failure stops him from trying new things.
The child shows great sensitivity when his parents argue.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sensitivity' with 'sense' or 'sensation'. Use 'sensitivity' for the general quality (e.g., 'her sensitivity'), 'sense' for an ability (e.g., 'a sense of smell'), and 'sensation' for a feeling in the body (e.g., 'a burning sensation'). Another mistake is using the adjective *sensible* instead of *sensitive*. *Sensible* means 'reasonable', not 'easily hurt'.
Meaning
being easily hurt or moved
Collocations
emotional sensitivity
|heightened sensitivity
|sensitivity to criticism
|sensitivity to rejection
|increased sensitivity
|sensitivity about [a topic]
Synonyms
vulnerability (suggests openness to emotional hurt; can sound slightly more negative or serious than 'sensitivity')
|
sensitiveness (a formal or less common synonym; often used in similar contexts but sounds more old-fashioned)
Antonyms
insensitivity (describes not being emotionally affected or not caring about others' feelings)
Themes
emotions
|personality
|relationships
Definition
the quality of feeling things very strongly and getting hurt or upset easily
The quality of being easily emotionally affected by other people, events, or experiences, often becoming hurt, upset, or deeply moved.
NOUN
B2
2
tapintat
B2
érzékenység
B1
Usage pattern:
show sensitivity to [someone/something]
The nurse handled the bad news with great sensitivity.
Az ápoló nagy tapintattal kezelte a rossz hírt.
Teachers need sensitivity to the different backgrounds of their students.
A tanároknak érzékenységre van szükségük a diákjaik eltérő háttere iránt.
He showed remarkable sensitivity in the way he spoke to the grieving family.
Cultural sensitivity is essential when working with international clients.
The manager praised her sensitivity to the team's workload and stress levels.
Learner examples
She showed sensitivity when she listened quietly to her friend.
Tapintatot mutatott azzal, hogy csendben meghallgatta a barátját.
We must have sensitivity to people who are different from us.
Érzékenységet kell mutatnunk azok iránt, akik különböznek tőlünk.
Good doctors need both knowledge and sensitivity.
They designed the ad with sensitivity to local culture.
The company offers sensitivity training to help staff understand each other.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say 'he is very *polite* to other cultures' when they mean a deeper awareness and care. Use 'cultural sensitivity' or 'sensitivity to other cultures' for this idea, especially in academic or work contexts.
Meaning
careful respect for feelings
Collocations
show sensitivity
|great sensitivity
|cultural sensitivity
|emotional sensitivity
|sensitivity training
|sensitivity to others' needs
Synonyms
tact (focuses more on the skill of saying or doing things in a careful, polite way, especially in difficult situations)
Antonyms
insensitivity (lack of care or concern for others' feelings or needs)
Themes
emotions
|social
|work
|relationships
|communication
Definition
the quality of seeing and respecting other people's feelings and needs, and acting with care
The ability to notice, understand, and respectfully respond to the feelings and needs of other people; tact and thoughtfulness.
NOUN
B2
3
érzékenység
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s sensitivity to [light/sound/pain/etc.]
Many migraine sufferers report increased sensitivity to light and sound.
Sok migrénes fokozott fény- és hangérzékenységről számol be.
Her skin sensitivity means she can only wear very soft fabrics.
Bőrérzékenysége miatt csak nagyon puha anyagokat tud viselni.
The dentist prescribed a special toothpaste for tooth sensitivity.
After the surgery, she noticed a strange sensitivity to cold in her hands.
Workers complained about their sensitivity to the constant background noise in the factory.
Learner examples
His sensitivity to loud music gives him headaches.
A hangos zenére való érzékenysége miatt megfájdul a feje.
I have skin sensitivity, so this soap hurts my hands.
Érzékeny a bőröm, ezért ez a szappan csípi a kezemet.
The baby has a strong sensitivity to bright light.
My tooth sensitivity is worse when I drink cold water.
Due to her sensitivity to heat, she stays inside on hot days.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say 'my skin is very *sensible*' instead of 'my skin is very sensitive' or 'I have skin sensitivity'. Remember: *sensitive* and *sensitivity* relate to easy reaction; *sensible* means 'reasonable'.
Meaning
strong reaction to physical stimuli
Collocations
skin sensitivity
|tooth sensitivity
|light sensitivity
|sensitivity to noise
|sensitivity to pain
|increased sensitivity
Synonyms
susceptibility (more formal; often used in medical or scientific contexts to mean being easily affected by something)
Antonyms
tolerance (ability to accept or endure a physical stimulus (like pain, heat, or noise) without a strong reaction)
Themes
health
|body
|daily life
Definition
how strongly a part of the body or a sense reacts to things like touch, light, sound, or heat
The degree to which a body part, sense, or whole body reacts strongly to physical stimuli such as touch, temperature, light, or sound.
NOUN
B2
4
érzékenység
B1
intolerancia
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] has a sensitivity to [substance]
The test showed that she has a gluten sensitivity, not a full allergy.
A teszt kimutatta, hogy gluténérzékenysége van, nem pedig valódi allergiája.
Some people develop a sensitivity to certain antibiotics over time.
Egyeseknél idővel érzékenység alakul ki bizonyos antibiotikumokkal szemben.
His skin sensitivity to nickel makes it hard for him to wear cheap jewelry.
They removed dairy from his diet to see if a milk sensitivity was causing the rash.
The label warns people with aspirin sensitivity not to take this product.
Learner examples
She has a milk sensitivity and cannot drink normal milk.
Tejérzékenysége van, ezért nem ihat hagyományos tejet.
After the meal, he found out he had a food sensitivity.
Az étkezés után kiderült, hogy ételérzékenysége van.
My friend has a gluten sensitivity and eats special bread.
The doctor said my cough may be from a dust sensitivity.
He developed a sensitivity to this medicine and must stop taking it.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes call all such problems an 'allergy', but doctors often use 'sensitivity' or 'intolerance' for milder reactions. Use 'allergy' for strong immune reactions and 'sensitivity' for weaker but still unpleasant ones.
Meaning
allergic or adverse body reaction
Collocations
food sensitivity
|gluten sensitivity
|lactose sensitivity
|drug sensitivity
|develop a sensitivity to
|mild sensitivity
Synonyms
intolerance (commonly used for food or drink; often suggests difficulty digesting rather than a classic allergy)
Antonyms
tolerance (ability to take a substance without a bad reaction)
Themes
health
|medicine
|food
|food_drink
Definition
a problem where your body does not accept a certain food, drink, or other substance and reacts badly to it
A condition in which someone's body reacts badly to a particular substance such as a food, chemical, or medicine, often causing discomfort or mild illness rather than a severe allergy.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
5
kényesség
B2
érzékenység
B1
Usage pattern:
the sensitivity of [an issue/topic/information]
Due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, all meetings were held in private.
A tárgyalások kényessége miatt minden megbeszélést zárt körben tartottak.
The journalist was aware of the political sensitivity of the story.
Az újságíró tisztában volt a történet politikai érzékenységével.
Because of commercial sensitivity, the company refused to share detailed sales figures.
The report stressed the sensitivity of the subject for the local community.
New rules aim to reflect the sensitivity of personal data in the digital age.
Learner examples
Because of the sensitivity of this topic, we should talk in private.
A téma kényessége miatt négyszemközt kellene beszélnünk.
He did not understand the political sensitivity of his comments.
Nem értette, hogy a megjegyzései politikailag kényesek.
The manager knows the sensitivity of pay talks with staff.
Due to the sensitivity of the information, only a few people can see it.
We must respect the sensitivity of this question for many families.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say 'this is a very *sensible* topic' when they mean it is delicate. Use 'sensitive topic' or 'a topic with a lot of sensitivity', not 'sensible'.
Meaning
delicate or politically risky nature
Collocations
the sensitivity of the issue
|political sensitivity
|commercial sensitivity
|data sensitivity
|high sensitivity
|recognize the sensitivity
Synonyms
delicacy (formal; focuses on the need for careful treatment because something is easily damaged or may cause offense)
Antonyms
robustness (in this context, suggests that an issue or information can be handled openly without much risk)
Themes
politics
|business
|communication
Definition
how delicate or easily dangerous a topic, situation, or information is, so people must be careful with it
The degree to which a subject, situation, or piece of information is delicate, controversial, or politically risky and therefore needs to be handled with great care.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
6
érzékenység
B2
Usage pattern:
the sensitivity of [a device/test/sensor]
The new microphone offers much higher sensitivity at low volumes.
Az új mikrofon sokkal érzékenyebb a halk hangokra.
By increasing the sensitivity of the sensor, the system can detect tiny movements.
A szenzor érzékenységének növelésével a rendszer apró mozgásokat is képes érzékelni.
The camera's ISO setting controls its sensitivity to light.
Researchers evaluated the sensitivity of the blood test for early-stage disease.
Users can adjust the touchpad sensitivity in the settings menu.
Learner examples
We can change the sensitivity of the touch screen in the app.
Az alkalmazásban módosíthatjuk az érintőképernyő érzékenységét.
This camera has good sensitivity to light in dark rooms.
Ennek a kamerának sötét szobákban is jó a fényérzékenysége.
The lab improved the sensitivity of their test equipment.
High sensitivity in the sensor helps find very small leaks.
The doctor talked about the sensitivity of the new blood test.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sensitivity' with 'sensibility' in technical writing. In science and technology, use 'sensitivity' for how well a device or test detects signals.
Meaning
how strongly a device responds
Collocations
high sensitivity
|low sensitivity
|sensor sensitivity
|test sensitivity
|camera sensitivity
|adjust the sensitivity
Synonyms
responsiveness (general; can describe how quickly or strongly something reacts, but is less precise in technical contexts)
Antonyms
insensitivity (in technical use, suggests that a device or test does not react or detect small changes well)
Themes
science
|technology
|medicine
Definition
how well a machine or test can find or measure very small signals or changes
The degree to which a device, sensor, or measurement method responds to or can detect very small changes, signals, or amounts.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
7
érzékenység
B2
Usage pattern:
the sensitivity of [a diagnostic test]
The screening tool has high sensitivity but relatively low specificity.
A szűrőeszköz szenzitivitása magas, de a specificitása viszonylag alacsony.
Researchers calculated the sensitivity of the test based on data from 500 patients.
A kutatók 500 beteg adatai alapján kiszámították a teszt szenzitivitását.
Improving the sensitivity of early cancer tests could save many lives.
Low sensitivity means that many true cases will be missed.
The paper reports a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 88%.
Learner examples
The doctor said the new test has high sensitivity for this disease.
Az orvos azt mondta, hogy az új teszt szenzitivitása magas ennél a betegségnél.
Low sensitivity means the test may miss sick people.
Az alacsony szenzitivitás azt jelenti, hogy a teszt nem ismer fel minden beteget.
They studied the sensitivity and specificity of the exam.
Researchers want better sensitivity in tests for early cancer.
The article explains the sensitivity of the blood test in simple words.
Common mistake:
Learners often mix up 'sensitivity' and 'specificity'. Remember: sensitivity is about how many sick people the test correctly finds; specificity is about how many healthy people it correctly says are healthy.
Meaning
ability of a test to find cases
Collocations
high sensitivity
|low sensitivity
|test sensitivity and specificity
|diagnostic sensitivity
|assess the sensitivity
Synonyms
true positive rate (technical term used in statistics; exactly defines this measure but may be less familiar to general readers)
Antonyms
specificity (in diagnostics, contrasts with sensitivity by measuring how well a test correctly identifies people without the condition)
Themes
medicine
|statistics
|science
|health
Definition
in medical and other tests, how many people who really have a disease are correctly found by the test
In diagnostics and statistics, the proportion of actual positive cases that a test correctly identifies as positive; the true positive rate.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sensitivity
IPA
GB/sˌɛnsɪtˈɪvɪti/
US/sˌɛnsɪtˈɪvɪti/
Syllables & stress
sens - it - iv - ity (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (iv)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sensitivity
- Plural: sensitivities, sensitivity
Word family
Forms
sensitivities
noun
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
hypersensitive
adjective
hypersensitivity
noun
desensitize
verb
desensitization
noun
Expressions
cultural sensitivity
1/kˈʌlt͡ʃɚəl sˌɛnsɪtˈɪvɪti/
fixed phrase
awareness and respect for cultures
care and understanding about the ideas, customs, and feelings of people from other cultures
Examples
- The company offers workshops on cultural sensitivity for all employees.
- Teachers need cultural sensitivity when working in multicultural classrooms.
- Lack of cultural sensitivity in the ad campaign led to public criticism.
light sensitivity
1/lˈaɪt sˌɛnsɪtˈɪvɪti/
fixed phrase
eyes hurt in bright light
a problem where bright light hurts your eyes or makes you feel sick or uncomfortable
Examples
- After the concussion, he experienced severe light sensitivity.
- Migraine patients often report light sensitivity during an attack.
- Her light sensitivity means she always wears sunglasses outdoors.
sensitivity training
1/sˌɛnsɪtˈɪvɪti tɹˈeɪnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
course on respecting differences
a class or program that helps people learn to understand and respect other people's feelings, cultures, or identities
Examples
- New employees must complete sensitivity training in their first three months.
- The company introduced sensitivity training after complaints about rude behavior.
- Sensitivity training can improve communication in diverse workplaces.
show sensitivity to
1/ʃˈoʊ sˌɛnsɪtˈɪvɪti tə/
fixed phrase
act with care for others' feelings
to behave in a kind and careful way because you understand another person's feelings or needs
Examples
- She showed great sensitivity to the child's fear of hospitals.
- Politicians must show sensitivity to public opinion on this issue.
- Good leaders show sensitivity to the stress their teams are under.
skin sensitivity
1/skˈɪn sˌɛnsɪtˈɪvɪti/
fixed phrase
easily irritated skin
a problem where a person's skin reacts strongly or badly to things like soap, clothes, or cold air
Examples
- People with skin sensitivity should avoid strong perfumes and dyes.
- Her skin sensitivity became worse in winter.
- The cream is designed for users with skin sensitivity.