sensitive |ˈsensitiv|adjective1 quick to detect or respond to slight changes, signals, or influences : thenew method of protein detection was more sensitive than earlier ones | spiders aresensitive to vibrations on their web.• easily damaged, injured, or distressed by slight changes : the committee called for improved protection of wildlife in environmentally sensitive areas.• (of photographic materials) prepared so as to respond rapidly to the action of light.• (of a market) unstable and liable to quick changes of price because ofoutside influences.2 (of a person or a person's behavior) having or displaying a quick and delicate appreciation of others' feelings : I pay tribute to the Minister for his sensitive handling of the bill.• easily offended or upset : I suppose I shouldn't be so sensitive.3 kept secret or with restrictions on disclosure to avoid endangering security : he was suspected of passing sensitive information to other countries.nouna person who is believed to respond to occult influences.DERIVATIVESsensitively |ˈsɛnsəd1vli| adverbsensitiveness |ˈsɛnsədɪvn1s| nounORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense [sensory] ): from Old Frenchsensitif, -ive or medieval Latin sensitivus, formed irregularly fromLatin sentire ‘feel.’ The current senses date from the early 19th cent.