specificity

noun

spec·​i·​fic·​i·​ty ˌspe-sə-ˈfi-sə-tē How to pronounce specificity (audio)
Synonyms of specificitynext
: 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

Synonyms of specificity

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But somewhere in the show’s creative journey and the blending of British television veterans and scribes from inside Jackson’s Power-verse, a lot of the specificity vanished into the ether. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026 He had been told, often enough, that the specificity of a Teochew-language film built in its own ceiling. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 July 2026 Most of the panelists favored leaning into specificity and the details that lovers of the genre latch onto while consuming a book, show or rom-com film. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 27 July 2026 Undeterred, the team simplified things and fed AlphaFold only the DNA, RNA, and Cas9 protein, since the latter is the primary factor determining its sequence specificity. — ArsTechnica, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for specificity

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of specificity was in 1875

Rhymes for specificity

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Browse Nearby Words

specific ionization
specificity
specificize
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Cite this Entry

“Specificity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specificity. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

specificity

noun
spec·​i·​fic·​i·​ty ˌspes-ə-ˈfis-ət-ē How to pronounce specificity (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce specificity (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on specificity

Nglish: Translation of specificity for Spanish Speakers

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