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REFERENCE

sensitive

adj. · n.
US //ˈsɛnsətɪv// UK //sˈɛnsɪtˌɪv// sen·si·tive
  1. 1 aware of others' feelings (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    understanding the feelings of other people and being careful not to hurt them.

    displaying a quick or delicate appreciation of others' feelings.

    Example

    He is a very sensitive teacher who always notices when a student is struggling.

    Example

    The manager handled the redundancy meetings in a sensitive manner, ensuring that every affected employee felt heard and respected.
  2. 2 easily upset (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    getting hurt or offended very easily by what people say or do.

    easily hurt or offended; having a low threshold for emotional distress or criticism.

    Example

    Don't be so sensitive; I was only joking about your new haircut.

    Example

    She has always been sensitive about her height, so it is best to avoid making even casual comments on the subject.

    Teacher's tip

    In this sense, the word can sometimes have a slightly negative tone, suggesting someone overreacts to criticism.
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  1. 3 secret or private (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    needing to be kept secret because it could cause trouble if others see it.

    requiring tact or secrecy to avoid embarrassment or security risks.

    Example

    The company asked her to sign a paper before showing her sensitive financial documents.

    Example

    The leak of sensitive diplomatic cables caused a significant strain on international relations for several months.

    Usage

    Often used in business or government contexts to describe data or documents.
  2. 4 precise equipment (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    able to measure very small changes.

    capable of registering very small quantities or slight changes in a physical property.

    Example

    The laboratory uses a sensitive scale that can weigh a single hair.

    Example

    The seismograph is sensitive enough to detect tectonic shifts occurring thousands of miles away from the station.
  3. 5 a psychic person (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary

    a person who claims to be able to feel or see spirits or ghosts.

    a person supposedly endowed with psychic or paranormal powers of perception.

    Example

    The old stories say a sensitive was called to the house to talk to the ghost.

    Example

    In nineteenth-century literature, the sensitive was often depicted as a fragile individual capable of communing with the spirit world.

    Teacher's tip

    This noun use is rare in modern daily speech; 'psychic' is much more common.
Origin

From Middle French sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus.

Word family

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