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
Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Joe Biden's catastrophic performance fueled questions about his mental acuity and led, three weeks later, to his reluctant withdrawal as the Democratic candidate.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 30 May 2026
The report also found that emergency medical services were increasingly used to respond to mental health and substance abuse crises — complications disproportionately experienced by unhoused people — contributing to the high number of low-acuity calls linked to homelessness.
—Reeti Malhotra
may 29, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
This is a war film less ordinary, for it is imbued with the emotional acuity of a life-changing therapist.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 May 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 11 Jun. 2026.
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acuity
noun
Medical Definition
acuity
noun
