Standard Lemma guide

photosensitive

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having a reaction to, or able to be affected by, light.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: light-sensitive

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

sensitive to visible light

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • photographic film is light-sensitive

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: light-sensitive

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bheh2- Proto-Indo-European *bhéh2os Proto-Hellenic *pháwos Ancient Greek φᾰ́ος (phắos) Ancient Greek φῶς (phôs) Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-)der. English photo- English sensitive English photosensitive From photo- + sensitive.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: светлочувствителен (svetločuvstvitelen) — sensitive to light — see also light-sensitive
  • Finnish: valoherkkä — sensitive to light — see also light-sensitive
  • Finnish: valonarka — sensitive to light — see also light-sensitive
  • Galician: fotosensible — sensitive to light — see also light-sensitive
  • German: lichtempfindlich — sensitive to light — see also light-sensitive
  • Hungarian: fényérzékeny — sensitive to light — see also light-sensitive
  • Indonesian: peka cahaya — sensitive to light — see also light-sensitive
  • Irish: fótamhothálach — sensitive to light — see also light-sensitive
  • Polish: światłoczuły — sensitive to light — see also light-sensitive
  • Portuguese: fotossensível — sensitive to light — see also light-sensitive
  • Spanish: fotosensible — sensitive to light — see also light-sensitive