the quality of being specific rather than general
"add a desirable note of specificity to the discussion"
"the specificity of the symptoms of the disease"
The state of being specific rather than general.
"The specificity of the treatment plan ensured it targeted only the patient's unique symptoms without affecting their overall health."
In plain English: Specificity means being very clear and exact about exactly what you are talking about instead of just giving general information.
"The specificity of her instructions made sure everyone knew exactly what to do."
Usage: Use specificity to describe how detailed or precise something is, especially when contrasting it with vague or broad statements. This noun often appears in contexts like scientific research or instructions where exactness matters more than general ideas.
The word specificity comes from combining the adjective specific with the suffix -ity to form a noun meaning the quality of being specific. It entered English directly through the influence of the similar French term spécificité.