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
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
These are nonspecific symptoms that often lead to misdiagnosis with other illnesses such as influenza, malaria or typhoid fever.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
The researchers recruited 34 adults who’d had chronic, nonspecific LBP for more than three months and randomly divided them into two groups.
—New Atlas, 25 June 2025
The laboratory tests should include the standard blood panels and prostate specific antigen, which is a sensitive, albeit nonspecific, test of prostate pathology.
—Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
Perhaps women might just have a greater tendency to name-drop some of the above nonspecific symptoms while describing their situation—which could discourage doctors from fairly considering a ministroke diagnosis.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonspecific
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Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
The researchers recruited 34 adults who’d had chronic, nonspecific LBP for more than three months and randomly divided them into two groups.
—New Atlas, 25 June 2025
The laboratory tests should include the standard blood panels and prostate specific antigen, which is a sensitive, albeit nonspecific, test of prostate pathology.
—Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
Perhaps women might just have a greater tendency to name-drop some of the above nonspecific symptoms while describing their situation—which could discourage doctors from fairly considering a ministroke diagnosis.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonspecific
Cite this Entry
“Nonspecific.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonspecific. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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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