Meaning & use
sensitive equipment
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
Equipment that is easily damaged or affected by heat, dust, movement, or other conditions, and so needs careful handling.
Grammar: Uncountable, so it has no plural form: say 'a piece of sensitive equipment', not 'a sensitive equipment'.
Patterns
- sensitive equipment in something
- handle sensitive equipment
- protect sensitive equipment
The laboratory stores sensitive equipment in a dust-free room.
Workers must wear gloves when they move sensitive equipment.
Drops and knocks can damage sensitive equipment during shipping.
noununcountabletechnical
Devices or systems that carry secret information or are used for spying, and therefore need special protection.
Grammar: Also uncountable and often used in security or military writing.
Patterns
- sensitive equipment on a plane
- export sensitive equipment
- sensitive equipment used by the military
The embassy was accused of planting sensitive equipment in the meeting room.
New rules control the export of sensitive equipment to certain countries.
Guards check everyone who enters the area where sensitive equipment is kept.
Common combinations
- highly sensitive equipment
- The hospital uses highly sensitive equipment to scan the brain.
- handle sensitive equipment with care
- Please handle sensitive equipment with care while unpacking it.
- protect sensitive equipment from moisture
- The case is designed to protect sensitive equipment from moisture.
- a piece of sensitive equipment
- Each piece of sensitive equipment is checked before it is shipped.
Synonyms and how they differ
- delicate equipment
- This focuses on the equipment being easily broken, while 'sensitive equipment' often also suggests it reacts to heat, light, or signals.
- precision equipment
- This stresses exact measurement or fine work; 'sensitive equipment' stresses that outside conditions can affect it.
Commonly confused: sensitive equipment or sensible equipment?
sensitive equipment vs sensible equipment
'Sensible' means reasonable or practical, so 'sensible equipment' would describe equipment that is a wise choice, not equipment that is easily affected.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'sensitive equipment' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Sensitive equipment' is uncountable, so 'pieces of sensitive equipment' is the natural way to count it. Option 0 wrongly adds -s, option 2 uses the wrong preposition pattern, and option 3 wrongly treats it as plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sensitive equipment”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.