Finesentence logo

Insensitivity: meaning, definitions and examples

😐
Add to dictionary

insensitivity

 

[ ˌɪn.sen.sɪˈtɪv.ɪ.ti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

psychology

Lack of sensitivity or consideration towards others' feelings or emotions.

Synonyms

callousness, coldness, indifference, unfeelingness

Examples of usage

  • His insensitivity towards her struggles made her feel alone and unsupported.
  • The manager's insensitivity to the team's concerns led to a decline in morale and productivity.
Context #2 | Noun

medicine

The reduced ability to respond to a stimulus.

Synonyms

anaesthesia, loss of sensation, numbness

Examples of usage

  • The patient's insensitivity to pain was a concerning symptom of nerve damage.
  • Diabetic neuropathy can cause insensitivity in the extremities, leading to injuries going unnoticed.
Context #3 | Noun

chemistry

The resistance of a material to being altered by a chemical or physical process.

Synonyms

imperviousness, resistance, unreactiveness

Examples of usage

  • The insensitivity of the coating to corrosion made it ideal for use in harsh environments.
  • The insensitivity of the sensor to temperature changes ensured accurate measurements.

Translations

Translations of the word "insensitivity" in other languages:

🇵🇹 insensibilidade

🇮🇳 संवेदनहीनता

🇩🇪 Gefühllosigkeit

🇮🇩 ketidakpekaan

🇺🇦 нечутливість

🇵🇱 niewrażliwość

🇯🇵 無神経

🇫🇷 insensibilité

🇪🇸 insensibilidad

🇹🇷 duyarsızlık

🇰🇷 무감각

🇸🇦 عدم الحساسية

🇨🇿 necitelnost

🇸🇰 necitlivosť

🇨🇳 无感

🇸🇮 neobčutljivost

🇮🇸 ónæmi

🇰🇿 сезімсіздік

🇬🇪 უგრძნობლობა

🇦🇿 hissizlik

🇲🇽 insensibilidad

Etymology

The word 'insensitivity' originated from the combination of the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' and the word 'sensitivity'. It first appeared in the English language in the mid-19th century. Over time, 'insensitivity' has been used in various fields such as psychology, medicine, and chemistry to describe different aspects of lack of sensitivity or responsiveness. The term continues to be relevant in discussions surrounding empathy, perception, and material properties.

See also: insensitively, sensitivities.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,083, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.