photosensitive

adjective

pho·​to·​sen·​si·​tive ˌfō-tō-ˈsen(t)-s(ə-)tiv 

1

: sensitive to the action of radiant energy

photosensitive paper

2

: being or caused by an abnormal reaction to sunlight

photosensitive rashes

photosensitivity

ˌfō-tō-ˌsen(t)-sə-ˈti-və-tē 

noun

Examples of photosensitive in a Sentence

paper with a photosensitive coating

Recent Examples on the Web

Some woods are very photosensitive, like cherry and walnut, but cherry darkens with sun exposure while walnut fades. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 July 2025

It's used in a type of 3D printing known as digital light processing (DLP), in which focused patterns of light are shone through the transparent sides of a vat of photosensitive resin – doing so causes select areas of the resin within to polymerize into layers of solid material. —Ben Coxworth july 02, New Atlas, 2 July 2025

Plus, these will make your skin even more photosensitive, a.k.a. —Amber Rambharose, Glamour, 12 June 2025

All of the plants at Illicit grow under rows of bright lights, enough to prompt photosensitive people to take out sunglasses. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for photosensitive

• hypersensitive
• insensitive
• radiosensitive
• sensitive

Medical Definition

photosensitive

adjective

pho·​to·​sen·​si·​tive ˌfōt-ō-ˈsen(t)-sət-iv, -ˈsen(t)-stiv 

1

: sensitive or sensitized to the action of radiant energy

photosensitive paper

2

: being or caused by an abnormal reaction to sunlight

photosensitive rashes

photosensitivity

-ˌsen(t)-sə-ˈtiv-ət-ē 

noun

plural photosensitivities