specificity
noun
spec·i·fic·i·ty
ˌspe-sə-ˈfi-sə-tē 
: the quality or condition of being specific: such as
a
: the condition of being peculiar to a particular individual or group of organisms
host specificity of a parasite
b
: the condition of participating in or catalyzing only one or a few chemical reactions
the specificity of an enzyme
Examples of specificity in a Sentence
I was impressed by the specificity of her instructions.
the specificity of your description of your medical condition was a bit more than I needed
Recent Examples on the Web
Without clear definitions and tailored strategies, businesses risk adopting a one-size-fits-all approach to a concept that demands nuance and specificity.
—
René Janssen, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
For a growing segment of wine lovers today, the allure of wine isn’t the exclusivity or specificity outlined by traditional hierarchies or classifications, explains Oscar Salinas, co-owner of Los Naturales, a natural wine bar and bottle shop in Chicago.
—Anna Lee C. Iijima, Bon Appétit, 22 Jan. 2025
The county-wide message sent to Angelenos included many of these details but lacked the location specificity, allowing it to be easily misinterpreted by the broader audience.
—Colleen Hagerty, Rolling Stone, 18 Jan. 2025
The appeals court, in its ruling, denied an appeal from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on the grounds that the charges lacked enough specificity.
—Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for specificity 
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René Janssen, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
For a growing segment of wine lovers today, the allure of wine isn’t the exclusivity or specificity outlined by traditional hierarchies or classifications, explains Oscar Salinas, co-owner of Los Naturales, a natural wine bar and bottle shop in Chicago.
—Anna Lee C. Iijima, Bon Appétit, 22 Jan. 2025
The county-wide message sent to Angelenos included many of these details but lacked the location specificity, allowing it to be easily misinterpreted by the broader audience.
—Colleen Hagerty, Rolling Stone, 18 Jan. 2025
The appeals court, in its ruling, denied an appeal from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on the grounds that the charges lacked enough specificity.
—Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for specificity
Dictionary Entries Near specificity
Cite this Entry
“Specificity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specificity. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
specificity
noun
spec·i·fic·i·ty
ˌspes-ə-ˈfis-ət-ē
: the quality or condition of being specific
especially
: the condition of taking part in or of acting as a catalyst in only one or a few chemical reactions
the specificity of an enzyme
Medical Definition
specificity
noun
spec·i·fic·i·ty
ˌspes-ə-ˈfis-ət-ē
plural specificities
: the quality or condition of being specific: as
a
: the condition of being peculiar to a particular individual or group of organisms
host specificity of a parasite
b
: the condition of participating in or catalyzing only one or a few chemical reactions
the specificity of an enzyme
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