sensitivity

sen|si|tiv|i|ty [ ,sensə`tıvəti ] noun **

▸ 1 understanding

▸ 2 physical reaction

▸ 3 emotional reaction

▸ 4 of situation/issue

▸ 5 ability to measure

1. ) uncount the quality of understanding how someone feels and being careful not to offend them:

Delivering bad news requires sensitivity on the doctor's part.

sensitivity to: The education system showed no sensitivity to different cultural traditions.

a ) the quality of understanding something and being careful not to do anything that harms or damages it:

The church has been restored with great sensitivity.

2. ) count or uncount a tendency to have a strong physical reaction to something:

sensitivity to: The drug can cause sensitivity to sunlight.

3. ) uncount a tendency to have strong emotional reactions, especially to be offended easily

a ) a natural understanding of something and a natural reaction to it:

sensitivity to: his sensitivity to music

4. ) uncount a situation in which something needs to be dealt with carefully because people could be offended:

We're very aware of the sensitivity of the issue.

a ) sensitivities plural the feelings of someone who may be offended:

We must keep in mind the sensitivities of the victims' families.

5. ) uncount the ability to measure slight differences in weight, time, temperature, etc.