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

But his firmly comedic approach, primarily filtered through goofy ironic commentary in the tradition of Monty Python, makes the specificity of his survey go down smoothly. — Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026

That left the question of whether the statute required that degree of specificity for the government to act. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026

Add in production design with a 1977 New York, San Francisco and Washington, all rebuilt with period specificity. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

But there is a satisfying specificity to the humor, especially as involves Asian American culture, gay life, New York City and New York City gay Asian American life, which is not overexplained. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

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