# sensitive

/ˈsɛnsətɪv/ (US) · /sˈɛnsɪtˌɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sensitive
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. aware of others' feelings

adjective · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: displaying a quick or delicate appreciation of others' feelings.

- He is a very sensitive teacher who always notices when a student is struggling.
- The manager handled the redundancy meetings in a sensitive manner, ensuring that every affected employee felt heard and respected.

### 2. easily upset

adjective · CEFR B1

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

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

- Don't be so sensitive; I was only joking about your new haircut.
- She has always been sensitive about her height, so it is best to avoid making even casual comments on the subject.

Teaching tip: In this sense, the word can sometimes have a slightly negative tone, suggesting someone overreacts to criticism.

### 3. secret or private

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

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

For teachers: requiring tact or secrecy to avoid embarrassment or security risks.

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

### 5. precise equipment

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

able to measure very small changes.

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

- The laboratory uses a sensitive scale that can weigh a single hair.
- The seismograph is sensitive enough to detect tectonic shifts occurring thousands of miles away from the station.

### 6. a psychic person

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

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

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

- The old stories say a sensitive was called to the house to talk to the ghost.
- In nineteenth-century literature, the sensitive was often depicted as a fragile individual capable of communing with the spirit world.

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

## Examples

- My teeth are very sensitive to cold water.
- She is a sensitive person who always knows when her friends are feeling upset.
- The diplomat handled the sensitive negotiations with great care, ensuring that neither party felt their cultural values were being overlooked or disrespected.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.