English Reference
Noun

hypersensitivity

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US /ˌhaɪpɝˈsɛnsɪˌtɪvɪˌti/ UK /hˌaɪpəsənsɪtˈɪvɪti/ hy·per·sen·si·tiv·i·ty UK spelling hypersensitivities

n.an extreme or unusual reaction to something that most people would not find annoying. It can also mean a medical condition where your body reacts too strongly to a substance like pollen.

n.an excessive or abnormal reaction to a stimulus, such as a physical allergen or a psychological stressor. Often used in medical contexts to describe allergic responses or in psychological contexts to describe extreme emotional reactivity.


SIMPLE

She has a hypersensitivity to loud noises.

CONTEXTUAL

The patient was diagnosed with a hypersensitivity to certain metals, which caused a rash every time he wore a new belt.

COMPLEX

While some critics dismissed the author's hypersensitivity to public opinion as mere paranoia, others argued it was a necessary defense mechanism in an increasingly hostile media landscape.

In rodents, taking two doses of psilocybin before chemo was enough to prevent the appearance of painful hypersensitivity during as many as six rounds of treatment.

Phys.org· 5 Sept 2026

From hyper- + sensitivity.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated