sensitive

/ˈsɛn.sɪt.ɪv/

//ˈsɛn.sɪt.ɪv// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"sensitive" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“sensitive” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,258 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#3,258
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Having the faculty of sensation; pertaining to the senses.

Key facts for sensitive
PropertyValue
Headwordsensitive
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈsɛn.sɪt.ɪv/
Letters9
Frequency rank#3,258
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “sensitive” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). sensitive lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for sensitive is 9 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈsɛn.sɪt.ɪv/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,258 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for sensitive, with forms such as "esnsitive", "senistive", and "sennsitive". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus. The correct English form is sensitive, spelled S-E-N-S-I-T-I-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Having the faculty of sensation; pertaining to the senses.
  2. 2
    Responsive to stimuli.
  3. 3
    Easily offended, upset, or hurt.
  4. 4
    Capable of offending, upsetting, or hurting.
  5. 5
    Meant to be concealed or kept secret.
  6. 6
    Being aware of the feelings of others and taking care not to offend them.
  7. 7
    Important, intricate, and requiring great delicacy.
  8. 8
    Accurate; able to register small changes in some property.
  9. 9
    Having paranormal abilities that can be controlled through mesmerism.

Etymology

From Middle French sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus.

Synonyms

awarecaringclassifiedcompassionateneshprecisetender

Antonyms

insensitivenonsensitiveresistantstoicuncaring

This word in other languages

sensible(Español)sensible(Français)empfindlich(Deutsch)sensível(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: esnsitive,senistive,sennsitive,sensiitve,sensitiev,sensitivve,sensittive,sensitvie,senssitive,senstiive,sesnitive,snesitive,ssensitive

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of sensitive - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

esnsitive2senistive2sennsitive1sensiitve2sensitiev2sensitivve1sensittive1sensitvie2
Edit distance from "sensitive"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "sensitive"?
"sensitive" is spelled S-E-N-S-I-T-I-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɛn.sɪt.ɪv/.
What does "sensitive" mean?
As an adjective, "sensitive" means: Having the faculty of sensation; pertaining to the senses.
What are common misspellings of "sensitive"?
Common misspellings include "esnsitive", "senistive", "sennsitive", "sensiitve", "sensitiev". The correct spelling is "sensitive".
How do you pronounce "sensitive"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "sensitive" is /ˈsɛn.sɪt.ɪv/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "sensitive"?
From Middle French sensitif, from Medieval Latin sensitivus. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “sensitive”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-E-N-S-I-T-I-V-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈsɛn.sɪt.ɪv/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list