reactivity

noun

re·​ac·​tiv·​i·​ty (ˌ)rē-ˌak-ˈti-və-tē 

: the quality or state of being reactive

emotional reactivity

chemical reactivity

If the brain, responding to psychological stress, stimulates the release of cortisol and cortisol suppresses the reactivity of the immune system, then a dormant viral infection may well flare up, or a new one catch hold.

—Matt Ridley

Abnormal reactivity to light and abnormal pupillary size may be important clues to the presence of cranial injury in the setting of head trauma.

—Bradford J. Shingleton

Examples of reactivity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rejection Sensitivity: Micro-rejections (enter, a match that never messages back or a conversation that abruptly dies) accumulate over time, deepening emotional reactivity. —Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

My advice would be to find a quality dog trainer who has experience with reactivity, along with muzzle training. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

As his reactivity subsided, his team’s engagement increased. —Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

Neuroimaging studies reveal that labeling emotions through writing activates the prefrontal cortex while dampening amygdala activity, effectively reducing emotional reactivity. —Drew Ramsey, Contributor, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing reactivity

• hyper-reactivity

Rhymes for reactivity

• absorptivity
• affectivity
• collectivity
• conductivity
• connectivity
• corrosivity
• creativity
• diffusivity
• directivity
• effectivity
• emissivity
• exclusivity

Medical Definition

reactivity

noun

re·​ac·​tiv·​i·​ty (ˌ)rē-ˌak-ˈtiv-ət-ē 

plural reactivities

: the quality or state of being reactive

skin reactivity

emotional reactivity