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

ˌnän-spi-ˈsi-fi-k(ə-)lē 

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

Synonyms

• all-around
• all-round
• bird's-eye
• broad
• general
• overall

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

Those who do have nonspecific symptoms such as a fever, a headache, rash, nausea, vomiting, aches and pains in the joints, eyes, muscles or bones. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 11 July 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Medical 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

nonspecifically

-ˈsif-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb