specificity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, technical
Quick answer
What does “specificity” mean?
The quality of being specific, precise, or clearly defined.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality of being specific, precise, or clearly defined.
In technical contexts, the degree to which a test, measurement, or description correctly identifies or applies only to a particular case, excluding others (e.g., statistical or diagnostic specificity).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation follow standard regional patterns.
Connotations
Equally formal and technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English in medical and scientific literature, but comparable overall.
Grammar
How to Use “specificity” in a Sentence
specificity of [noun phrase]specificity in [gerund/noun phrase]specificity for [noun phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “specificity” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The report must specify the exact materials required.
- Could you specify which dates you are unavailable?
American English
- The contract specifies the penalties for late delivery.
- Please specify your dietary restrictions when you RSVP.
adverb
British English
- The tool is specifically designed for left-handed users.
- She asked specifically for the budget figures.
American English
- I specifically told you not to share that file.
- This model is specifically aimed at beginners.
adjective
British English
- We need a specific example to illustrate the point.
- The instructions were not specific enough.
American English
- Do you have a specific person in mind for the job?
- The recipe calls for specific types of flour.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In business, specificity in contracts and project briefs is essential to avoid scope creep and legal disputes.
Academic
In academic writing, specificity of argument and evidence is valued to support precise claims.
Everyday
In everyday conversation, people might request specificity in directions or instructions to avoid confusion.
Technical
In medical diagnostics, specificity measures a test's ability to correctly identify negative cases (true negative rate).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “specificity”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “specificity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “specificity”
- Misspelling as 'specifisity' or 'specifity'.
- Using in overly informal contexts where 'details' or 'precision' would suffice.
- Confusing with 'sensitivity' in scientific discussions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Specificity measures a test's ability to correctly identify negatives (true negative rate), while sensitivity measures its ability to correctly identify positives (true positive rate).
It is quite formal. In casual speech, words like 'detail', 'precision', or 'exactness' are more common (e.g., 'Can you be more specific?' rather than 'Can you provide more specificity?').
Yes, 'specificity' is solely a noun. The related adjective is 'specific', the verb is 'specify', and the adverb is 'specifically'.
In American English, the middle 'c' is often pronounced as a soft 's' sound, and the following 't' is typically flapped, sounding like a quick 'd' (like in 'water'). So it sounds like 'spes-uh-FIS-uh-dee'.
The quality of being specific, precise, or clearly defined.
Specificity is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SPECIFIC CITY' – imagine a city map with every street and house numbered precisely. This links 'specific' with the detail-oriented suffix '-ity'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPECIFICITY IS A SHARP FOCUS (e.g., 'laser-like specificity'), or SPECIFICITY IS A NARROW FILTER (sifting out irrelevant elements).
Practice
Quiz
In the context of a scientific test, what does 'specificity' primarily refer to?