Specificity Meaning
/spɛsɪˈfɪsɪti/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe state of being specific rather than general.
nounThe extent to which a characteristic is specific to a given person, place, or thing; thus:, The probability, in a binary classification test, of a true negative being correctly identified.
Sentence Examples
Specificity is a virtue when you write a technical document.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The high ____ of the instructions helped the team avoid any mistakes during the build.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The doctor noted the ____ of the patient's symptoms, which pointed to a very rare condition.
Word Origin & History
From specific + -ity, perhaps modelled after French spécificité. First attested in 1829.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Congress must set a clear standard: Police should prove with specificity what's on your phone before forcing it open, and only after the device's owner has consulted with a lawyer. Doing so would provide citizens a means to ensure police follow warrant requirements without sacrificing law enforcement's ability to pursue the crime they're investigating."
— 2024 October 14, Patrick Eddington, James Craven, Police Want the Password to Your Phone:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The high ____ of the instructions helped the team avoid any mistakes during the build.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The doctor noted the ____ of the patient's symptoms, which pointed to a very rare condition.