Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of specificity
Explanation
Specificity is the goal of anyone who wants to know — or give — every single detail. If your friend's story is too vague, ask for specificity when things aren't clear. Specificity may look hard to pronounce, but if you remember that the first syllable rhymes with guess, the rest will flow easily: "spes-uh-FIS-uh-tee." Now try specificus, the Latin word at the root of specificity and the word species. Those words may not seem related — until you think about the classification of living things: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. Species is the most specific in the hierarchy!
Vocabulary lists containing specificity
What If It's Us
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Top Ten Most Relevant Words from Republican Presidential Candidates' Debate - Nov. 10, 2015
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United States v. Nixon (1974)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Jenkins says the specificity with which Conrad treats his characters was the hook.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
Her call for Americans of all backgrounds to protect public religiosity “in all its specificity and messiness” reflects our best traditions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
The researchers believe this tumor specificity results from several factors working together:
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
The best immigrant stories insist on specificity even as they gesture toward something universal.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
Milkman used to wonder at her specificity and her acquisitiveness until he reminded himself that Pilate and Reba celebrated no holidays.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
