French word

sensibilité

Pronunciation

IPA/sɑ̃sibilite/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsensitivity

Example

Elle a beaucoup de sensibilité.

She has a great deal of sensitivity.

Illustration for sensibilité (sensitivity)

More examples

Ses voisins remarquent sa sensibilité au moindre bruit.

Her neighbors notice her sensitivity to the slightest noise.

Core concept

An emotional antenna that quickly registers other people's feelings and the mood around them.

Common phrases

  • manquer de sensibilité

    lack sensitivity

  • sensibilité au bruit

    sensitivity to noise

  • sensibilité artistique

    artistic sensitivity

Similar words

empathie: An ability to understand other people's feelings and share their perspective.
émotivité: A tendency to become emotional easily, with tears or anger readily surfacing.
tact: Careful consideration of others' feelings and the situation when speaking or acting.

Definition in French

Capacité à ressentir fortement et rapidement des émotions ou tendance à s'émouvoir pour autrui.

Word origin

French sensibilité developed from Old French sensibilite, ultimately from Latin sensibilitas and sensibilis, related to sensus, meaning feeling.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English sensible, French sensible means sensitive, and être sensible à takes à before what affects someone.

Other meanings

  • delicacynoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word