sensitive
High-frequencyFormal, neutral, and informal (depending on context).
Definition
Meaning
Easily affected, damaged, or offended; responsive to slight changes or stimuli.
Showing awareness and understanding of the feelings of others; requiring careful handling due to potential to cause offence or be misunderstood; (of equipment) capable of detecting or measuring very small changes.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word spans physical, emotional, and social domains. It can be positive (empathetic, perceptive) or negative (overly easily hurt, fragile). Context is crucial for interpretation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the word identically in core meanings. 'Sensitive' in the context of classified information is equally common.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be used in a positive, empathetic sense in modern UK contexts (e.g., 'sensitive parenting'). In US contexts, the 'easily offended' connotation might be slightly more prominent in casual discourse.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
sensitive to [noun]sensitive about [noun]sensitive towards [person/group]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A sensitive plant (literal/metaphorical)”
- “To be on sensitive ground”
- “Handle with kid gloves (related concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to information that must be kept confidential (e.g., 'sensitive financial data') or markets that react strongly to news (e.g., 'sensitive to interest rate changes').
Academic
Used in scientific contexts (e.g., 'a sensitive instrument'), psychological studies (e.g., 'sensitive personality traits'), and social sciences discussing delicate topics.
Everyday
Commonly describes people's feelings (e.g., 'He's sensitive about his height'), skin reactions, or topics to avoid in conversation.
Technical
In engineering/IT: capable of detecting minute signals; in medicine: prone to allergic reaction; in ecology: easily damaged by development.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The device is designed to sensitise the material to light.
- (Rare as a main verb; 'sensitise' is used).
American English
- The training aims to sensitize employees to cultural differences.
- (Rare as a main verb; 'sensitize' is used).
adverb
British English
- The manager dealt with the complaint very sensitively.
- (Derived form 'sensitively').
American English
- She listened sensitively to his concerns.
- (Derived form 'sensitively').
adjective
British English
- She has very sensitive skin and can only use fragrance-free products.
- This is a politically sensitive matter for the government.
American English
- He's sensitive about his artwork and doesn't like criticism.
- The sensor is sensitive enough to detect a single photon.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Babies have sensitive skin.
- Don't shout, he is a sensitive boy.
- My teeth are sensitive to cold drinks.
- We need to be sensitive to other people's feelings.
- The negotiations are at a sensitive stage, so no details can be released.
- This is a highly sensitive piece of equipment; do not touch it.
- The report contained commercially sensitive information that could affect share prices.
- Her politically sensitive remarks sparked a diplomatic incident.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SENSOR. A sensitive person or device is like a highly tuned SENSOR, picking up on the slightest changes in environment or emotion.
Conceptual Metaphor
FRAGILITY (Emotions/things are fragile objects), ANTENNA (A person is a receiver of signals), ALARM SYSTEM (A person/issue is a triggered alarm).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'sensible' (разумный, благоразумный). 'Sensitive' is чувствительный, восприимчивый.
- The Russian 'сенситивный' is a rare, technical/medical loanword. Use native Russian equivalents in everyday speech.
- Do not translate 'sensitive information' as 'чувствительная информация'. Use 'конфиденциальная информация' or 'секретные данные'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sensible' instead of 'sensitive' (a false friend).
- Overusing 'sensitive' to mean simply 'kind'.
- Incorrect preposition: 'sensitive of' instead of 'sensitive to/about'.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'sensitive data' most likely means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Sensitive' primarily means easily affected or perceptive (чувствительный). 'Sensible' means practical and reasonable (разумный, благоразумный). They are false friends.
Yes. Describing someone as 'sensitive' can be positive, meaning they are empathetic, perceptive, and tactful (e.g., 'a sensitive teacher'). Context determines the connotation.
The most common are 'sensitive TO' (reacting to stimuli) and 'sensitive ABOUT' (easily offended regarding a topic). 'Sensitive TOWARDS' (showing understanding for others) is also used.
Yes, very commonly. It describes instruments, materials, or systems that detect or respond to very small changes (e.g., 'light-sensitive film', 'sensitive scales', 'sensitive ecosystem').
Collections
Part of a collection
Personality Traits
B1 · 36 words · Describing character and personal qualities.