nonspecific
adjective
non·spe·cif·ic
ˌnän-spi-ˈsi-fik 
: not specific: such as
a
: lacking in detail or particulars
nonspecific answers
a nonspecific description
b
: not caused by a specific or identified agent
nonspecific enteritis
c
: not restricted to a particular category, situation, or group
nonspecific flu-like symptoms
d
: not affecting a particular region or part
nonspecific pain
e
: having a general purpose, effect, or action : lacking in specificity
nonspecific antiviral agents
nonspecific irritants
nonspecifically
adverb
After a toxic protein is released into the bloodstream, it is taken up by macrophages, cells that nonspecifically scavenge and ingest various substances.
—
Harald von Boehmer and Pawel Kisielow
Harald von Boehmer and Pawel Kisielow
Synonyms
Examples of nonspecific in a Sentence
his criticism of the picture is fairly nonspecific, but he clearly doesn't like it
Recent Examples on the Web
Be Specific, Not Generic One of the quickest ways to fade into the background during an interview is to give vague, nonspecific answers.
—Mark Murphy, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
The symptoms are nonspecific, and there is no formal diagnosis or method to reach a diagnosis.
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 11 Oct. 2024
In many healthy adults, pertussis may be limited to a lingering cough, while older children may only show nonspecific symptoms, such as a runny nose and a cough, Muñoz adds.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2024
This results in an oppression utterly devoid of context, so nonspecific as to be nothing.
—Caitlin Penzeymoog, Vox, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nonspecific 
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Mark Murphy, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
The symptoms are nonspecific, and there is no formal diagnosis or method to reach a diagnosis.
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 11 Oct. 2024
In many healthy adults, pertussis may be limited to a lingering cough, while older children may only show nonspecific symptoms, such as a runny nose and a cough, Muñoz adds.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2024
This results in an oppression utterly devoid of context, so nonspecific as to be nothing.
—Caitlin Penzeymoog, Vox, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nonspecific
Dictionary Entries Near nonspecific
Cite this Entry
“Nonspecific.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonspecific. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
nonspecific
adjective
non·spe·cif·ic
-spi-ˈsif-ik
: not specific: as
a
: not caused by a specific or identified agent
nonspecific enteritis
b
: not restricted to a particular category, situation, or group
nonspecific flu-like symptoms
c
: not affecting a particular region or part
nonspecific pain
d
: having a general purpose, effect, or action
nonspecific antiviral agents
nonspecific irritants
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