reactivity
C1Technical / Academic
Definition
Meaning
The quality or state of being reactive; the tendency to react chemically, emotionally, or in a responsive manner.
In psychology, it refers to the phenomenon where subjects alter their behavior because they know they are being observed. In computing, it refers to a system's ability to automatically update in response to data changes.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a technical/scientific term that has extended into general use for describing responsiveness. The core meaning relates to responsiveness to a stimulus, whether chemical, emotional, or social.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. In British English, the related chemical term 'reactive' is more frequently found in older industrial/chemical contexts (e.g., 'reactive dyes').
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. Slightly more common in British English in medical/psychological contexts (e.g., airway reactivity).
Frequency
More frequent in American English in computing contexts (e.g., 'reactive programming').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
reactivity of [NOUN]reactivity to [NOUN/VERB-ING]reactivity towards [NOUN]reactivity in [NOUN PHRASE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On a hair trigger (metaphorical for high emotional reactivity)”
- “Tetchy as a cat (for high reactivity)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in HR: 'We monitor customer service reactivity to complaints.'
Academic
Common in chemistry, psychology, and materials science: 'The study measured the catalytic reactivity of the new compound.'
Everyday
Limited. Used to describe emotional or allergic responses: 'The child's reactivity to pollen is severe.'
Technical
Primary domain. Used precisely in chemistry (reactivity series), immunology (skin reactivity tests), and psychology (emotional reactivity).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The compound does not react under these conditions.
- How did the market react to the news?
American English
- The compound fails to react under these conditions.
- How did the market react to the news?
adverb
British English
- He reacted reactively, without thinking.
- The system updates reactively.
American English
- She responded reactively to the criticism.
- The interface changes reactively.
adjective
British English
- It's a highly reactive metal.
- She has a reactive personality.
American English
- It's a highly reactive metal.
- He's in a reactive mood today.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor tested the skin's reactivity to different substances.
- Some metals have high chemical reactivity.
- The reactivity of the new polymer was lower than expected, improving its safety.
- Psychological studies often measure emotional reactivity to stressful images.
- The catalyst's surface reactivity was enhanced through nanostructuring, leading to a threefold increase in yield.
- The Hawthorne effect is a classic example of measurement reactivity in social science research.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'RE-ACT-ivity' – the ability to act again in response to something.
Conceptual Metaphor
REACTIVITY IS A MEASURABLE FORCE (e.g., high/low reactivity). REACTIVITY IS A TRIGGER (easily set off).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'реактивность' (which is correct) or 'реакция' (which is just 'reaction'). 'Reactivity' implies a *property* or *tendency*, not a single event.
- Avoid calquing 'activity' as 'активность'. 'Chemical activity' is related but not identical to 'chemical reactivity'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'reaction' and 'reactivity' interchangeably (e.g., 'His reaction was high' vs. 'His reactivity is high').
- Misspelling as 'reactivety' or 'reactiveity'.
- Using in overly general contexts where 'response' or 'sensitivity' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In a psychological context, 'reactivity' most specifically refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Sensitivity' is the capacity to detect or be affected by a stimulus. 'Reactivity' is the strength or nature of the response *after* detection. Something can be sensitive but not very reactive.
Yes, commonly in psychology and everyday language to describe a person's tendency to respond emotionally or strongly to stimuli (e.g., 'emotional reactivity').
In chemistry, it is a list of metals ranked in order of their decreasing tendency to lose electrons and undergo reactions, particularly with water and acids.
Yes, it is a less common but acceptable synonym for 'reactivity', though 'reactivity' is the standard form in technical writing.