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

Synonyms of specificity

• accuracy
• precision
• attentiveness
• particularity
• explicitness
• preciseness
• carefulness

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

Literature depends on specificity, but not the indiscriminate, relentless specificity of real life. —Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025

Advertisement There are other instances of Bentley and Kwedar taking liberties with the moral specificity of Johnson’s book. —Rory Doherty, Time, 21 Nov. 2025

Bosses in most video games are preloaded with stock dialogue that threatens or taunts the player, but the bosses in the Hades games broaden the world and enrich the textures of gameplay with their specificity and originality. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2025

Considering our international expansion, (Archtypes) answers some specificities from the different markets and different seasonality. —Miles Socha, Footwear News, 17 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for specificity

• authenticity
• chromaticity
• concentricity
• domesticity
• eccentricity
• elasticity
• electricity
• iconicity
• metallicity
• multiplicity
• synchronicity
• analyticity

Kids 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