specificity

American  

[spes-uh-fis-i-tee] / ˌspɛs əˈfɪs ɪ ti /

noun

1. the quality or state of being specific.

2. Biochemistry, Pharmacology. the selective attachment or influence of one substance on another, as an antibiotic and its target organism or an antibody and its specific antigen.

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Other Word Forms

• nonspecificity noun

Etymology

Origin of specificity

First recorded in 1875–80; specific + -ity

Example Sentences

“AI favors firsthand experience, specificity and continuously refreshed discussions. So the more activity that is happening around your brand, the more likely you are to be propelled into the conversation.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Parr, ever in favor of vivid specificity, even then saw an opportunity to release the shutter.

From The Wall Street Journal

If you want a little more specificity as you move through these steps, keep it simple.

From Salon

"This is a very positive signal -- we now know it's possible to exploit this specificity to target certain cancer cells," says Jean-Claude Martinou.

From Science Daily

What her books lack in character diversity, they make up for in specificity.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• particularity
• precision