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
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
For all its talk of shocking Gen-Z specificity, Levinson’s TV show has also ushered its mostly teen cast into adulthood without answering many questions that are key to the coming-of-age subgenre.
—
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
This is about the leap toward specificity, to diving below the surface of the most broadly appealing, easy-to-synthesize dishes — the ones, from any nation’s cuisine, that rarely make their way into restaurant repertoires.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
There is something universally illuminating in this intimate specificity.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
Creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg treats the Schwoopers with loving care, delving into themes of queerness, loss, religion, love, mental health, and growing up with a thoughtfulness and specificity that make his characters feel both familiar and unique.
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specificity
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Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
This is about the leap toward specificity, to diving below the surface of the most broadly appealing, easy-to-synthesize dishes — the ones, from any nation’s cuisine, that rarely make their way into restaurant repertoires.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
There is something universally illuminating in this intimate specificity.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
Creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg treats the Schwoopers with loving care, delving into themes of queerness, loss, religion, love, mental health, and growing up with a thoughtfulness and specificity that make his characters feel both familiar and unique.
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specificity
Cite this Entry
“Specificity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specificity. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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