/ ˌsensəˈtɪvəti; NAmE / noun
( pl. -ies )
TO PEOPLE'S FEELINGS
1.
[ U ] sensitivity (to sth) the ability to understand other people's feelings :
sensitivity to the needs of children
She pointed out with tact and sensitivity exactly where he had gone wrong.
TO ART / MUSIC / LITERATURE
2.
[ U ] the ability to understand art, music and literature and to express yourself through them :
She played with great sensitivity.
BEING EASILY UPSET
3.
[ U , C , usually pl. ] a tendency to be easily offended or upset by sth :
He's a mixture of anger and sensitivity.
She was blind to the feelings and sensitivities of other people.
OPP insensitivity
OF INFORMATION / SUBJECT
4.
[ U ] the fact of needing to be treated very carefully because it may offend or upset people :
Confidentiality is important because of the sensitivity of the information.
TO FOOD / COLD / LIGHT, etc.
5.
[ U , C , usually pl. ] ( technical ) the quality of reacting quickly or more than usual to sth :
food sensitivity
allergies and sensitivities
Some children develop a sensitivity to cow's milk.
The eyes of some fish have a greater sensitivity to light than ours do.
TO SMALL CHANGES
6.
[ U ] the ability to measure very small changes :
the sensitivity of the test