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
Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Scenarios will serve them best when designed with fluidity, leading to accurate calculations around the effects of further potential reductions or losses in grant funding, changes in payor mix, changes in patient acuity, and other operational variables.
—Courtney McFarland, STAT, 17 Mar. 2026
My heightened acuity is direct PTSD from my wife being hit on the Baldwin Park bike path in 2024.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
The hospital would be for patients who are low-acuity, meaning patients who don’t need the highest, most complex level of care, which is offered at Lurie’s downtown hospital.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acuity
Cite this Entry
“Acuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acuity. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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acuity
noun
Medical Definition
acuity
noun
