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
At a time when many of us are wary of simply speaking Spanish in public, Benito showcased triumph and joy without compromising the authenticity and specificity of the Puerto Rican experience.
—
Lara N. Dotson-Renta, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Fontainebleau’s restaurants have added specificity and depth to the dining scene in Las Vegas, and most diners here know Evan Funke from his reputation as renowned chef and traditional pasta maker in Los Angeles, having dined at his Bucato, Felix Trattoria, and Hollywood’s Mother Wolf.
—Andrea Bennett, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
Bad Bunny carried the album’s joy, communal nature, and cultural specificity into the halftime show in full force.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
Juggling demanding apparitions alongside staff burnout, family pressures and a coworker who seems to know more about her than expected, the series grounds its supernatural premise in the cultural specificity of the Filipino healthcare experience.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specificity
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Lara N. Dotson-Renta, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Fontainebleau’s restaurants have added specificity and depth to the dining scene in Las Vegas, and most diners here know Evan Funke from his reputation as renowned chef and traditional pasta maker in Los Angeles, having dined at his Bucato, Felix Trattoria, and Hollywood’s Mother Wolf.
—Andrea Bennett, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
Bad Bunny carried the album’s joy, communal nature, and cultural specificity into the halftime show in full force.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
Juggling demanding apparitions alongside staff burnout, family pressures and a coworker who seems to know more about her than expected, the series grounds its supernatural premise in the cultural specificity of the Filipino healthcare experience.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Feb. 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 16 Feb. 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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