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Definition of specificity

specificity

/ˌspɛs.ɪˈfɪs.ɪ.ti/
spec · i · fic · i · ty
Adverb:specifically
•
Plural:specificities
•
Adjective:specific
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specificity Lexical Profile

specificity Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The quality of belonging or relating uniquely to a particular subject; the state of being precise, exact, and clearly defined.

Example

"The legal contract lacked the specificity required to prevent future disputes over intellectual property rights."

2

In medicine and statistics, the ability of a diagnostic test to correctly identify individuals who do not have a particular disease or condition (true negative rate), or the selective binding of an antibody or enzyme to a specific target.

Example

"The new screening assay demonstrated both high sensitivity and high specificity in clinical trials."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for specificity

• Nearby Words

specific
specifically
specification
specificity
specificness
specify
specimen

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from French spécificité, formed from Medieval Latin specificus ('particular, specific') and the noun suffix -ity.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Specificity. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/specificity
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