French word

sensitivité

Pronunciation

IPA/sɑ̃sitivite/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsensitivity

Example

La sensitivité du capteur est très élevée.

The sensor's sensitivity is very high.

Illustration for sensitivité (sensitivity)

More examples

Sa sensitivité à la lumière provoque de l'inconfort oculaire.

Her sensitivity to light causes eye discomfort.

Core concept

A finely tuned sensor notices a faint signal and responds clearly, whether the sensor is a device, a body, or living tissue.

Common phrases

  • sensitivité à la lumière

    sensitivity to light

  • sensitivité au pollen

    sensitivity to pollen

Similar words

sensibilité: Emotional responsiveness to other people's actions, words, or circumstances.
sensation: A specific physical feeling received by the body.

Definition in French

Degré auquel une personne, un organe ou un tissu perçoit et réagit à des stimulations sensorielles, notamment la capacité à détecter de faibles sensations.

Word origin

Sensitivité is formed from French sensitif with the noun-forming suffix -ité; sensitif comes from Latin sensitivus, related to sensus, 'feeling'.

Usage tips

  • Sensitivité is feminine, so the usual article is la, as in la sensitivité du capteur.

Opposites

  • insensibilitéinsensitivitynoun

Word lists with this word