acuity
noun
Did you know?
Do you have acuity or sensitivity?
Acuity is nearly synonymous with at least one sense of sensitivity, yet, as is so often the case with closely related words, there are subtle differences worth observing before you substitute one of these words for the other. Acuity does refer to a form of sensitivity, but it is most often applied to the perceptual senses (as in “visual acuity” or “auditory acuity”). It is also frequently used in reference to the intellect (as in “mental acuity”). Sensitivity has a broader range of meanings than acuity does, including “the capacity of being easily hurt.” It may be used of inanimate objects such as radios (“the sensitivity of the instruments was carefully calibrated”), a context in which acuity is unusual.
Examples of acuity in a Sentence
Joey Garrison, USA Today, 17 July 2025
That acuity is heightened during ovulation and diminished during the menstrual phase.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 July 2025
The committee has sought Dr. Kevin O'Connor's testimony as new reporting emerged earlier this year about the circumstances surrounding Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race and his mental acuity while in office.
—Kaia Hubbard
july 9, CBS News, 9 July 2025
She is also tied to former President Joe Biden, who has faced increasing scrutiny about his mental acuity since leaving office with new books alleging White House aides had covered up his physical and mental decline.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for acuity
Cite this Entry
“Acuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acuity. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
acuity
noun
Medical Definition
acuity
noun
Share