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sensitive Definition

sen·si·tive (sen′sə tiv)

adjective

  1. of the senses or sensation; esp., connected with the reception or transmission of sense impressions; sensory
  2. receiving and responding to stimuli from outside objects or agencies; having sensation
  3. responding or feeling readily and acutely; very keenly susceptible to stimuli a sensitive ear
  4. easily hurt; tender; raw
  5. having or showing keen sensibilities; highly perceptive or responsive intellectually, aesthetically, etc.
  6. easily offended, disturbed, shocked, irritated, etc., as by the actions of others; touchy
  7. changing readily in the presence of some external force or condition; specif.,
    1. readily affected by light: said of photographic film, etc.
    2. readily receiving very weak radio signals
    3. operating readily in weak light, as certain television camera tubes
  8. designed to indicate or measure small changes or differences
  9. showing, or liable to show, unusual variation; fluctuating a sensitive stock market
  10. ☆ designating, of, or dealing with secret or delicate matters, esp. secret or delicate government matters

Etymology: ME sensitife < MFr sensitif < ML sensitivus < L sensus: see sense

noun

medium ()

sensitive Related Forms
sen′·si·tively adverb sen′·si·tive·ness noun
sensitive Synonyms

sensitive

modif.

  1. Tender

    delicate, sore, raw, painful; see tender 6.

  2. Touchy

    high-strung, tense, nervous; see irritable, unstable 2.

  3. Sensory

    sentient, impressionable, sensible, perceptive, susceptible, receptive, psychic, sensorial, sensatory, tuned in*, soulful*, turned on to*; see also sympathetic.

  4. Responsive

    fine, delicate, fine-tuned, readily affected.

Sensitive Hacker Definition
Certain parts of an organization’s data or information is classified as this; if there is concern about a loss of data or about access to this data by an unauthorized party, resulting in some damage to the organization.
sensitive Usage Examples

Infinitive complement

  • touch: There is an area of bare pink skin on the snout that is very sensitive to touch.
  • smoke: Sit away from the lively bar if you're sensitive to smoke & book ahead for the popular weekend brunch.
  • gender: They should be of sufficient quality, culturally appropriate and sensitive to gender, life-cycle and privacy requirements.

Modifies a noun

  • skin: Just 5 minutes in strong sunlight can burn people with sensitive skins.
  • datum: Permission to work with sensitive data must be sought.
  • nature: Due to is possibly sensitive nature the field has to be securely encrypted to ensure patient confidentiality.
  • manner: He organizes his work effectively and directs others in a sensitive manner.
  • soul: Dubai has even, it seems, turned Jim into a sensitive soul, not something he's renowned for back in Britain.
  • handling: All would undergo specialized training, including the development of skills in the sensitive handling of the bereaved.

Modifying Another Word

  • environmentally: The project took place at an environmentally sensitive location, with all run-off water quickly entering local rivers.
  • culturally: Its aims are to foster a more culturally sensitive care approach.
  • commercially: They recognized that some aspects of their discussions might cover commercially sensitive issues.
  • politically: Touching upon car ownership and use is politically sensitive the issue has been toned down.
  • highly: These fragile ecosystems are highly sensitive to changes in temperature.
  • particularly: Within or near to particularly sensitive areas waste disposal site may not be justifiable.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: But the road layout has remained sensitive to its integrity, and it is still a church to walk to rather than drive.
  • deem: After September 11th 2001 Clear Channel issued a list of 150 songs to its member stations that it deemed too sensitive to play.
  • become: The body's immune system becomes sensitive to the allergen.
  • consider: Data are often collected through questioning as national census information is often not available because it is considered too sensitive.
  • feel: A woman who has just come back from pregnancy leave may feel sensitive that she is asking for part-time.
sensitive Quotes

A sensitive boy's humiliations may be very good fun for ordinary thick-skinned grown-ups; but to the boy himself theyareso acute, so ignominious, that he cannot confess themöcannot but deny them passionately.

—Shaw, George Bernard

Just as the pious man prays without speaking a word and the Almighty hearkens unto him, so the artist with true feelings paints and the sensitive man understands and recognizes it.

—Friedrich, Caspar David

A Sensitive Plant in a garden grew. 785

—Shelley, Percy Bysshe