Definition of specificity in English:
specificity
nounPlural specificities ˌspɛsɪˈfɪsɪtiˌspɛsəˈfɪsədi
mass noun1The quality of belonging or relating uniquely to a particular subject.
the statement of special educational needs lacked specificity
count noun the historical specificities of the texts cannot be overlooked
Example sentencesExamples
- The specificity of art objects needs to be placed back into history, not separated from it.
- For the investigators, the specificity of the vandals' targets indicates that the thefts of the major pieces were pre-planned to some degree.
- She growled whether I wanted a large or a small mineral water, and when I asked for specificity, she testily conceded that 'large' was a litre.
- The specificity of architectural form depends on tightly defined relations of elements.
- A lack of specificity becomes an issue when they decline to identify any of the tax loopholes they propose closing.
- 1.1Biology The narrowness of the range of substances with which an antibody or other agent acts or is effective.
the specificity of the antibody was checked
Example sentencesExamples
- Presently, this alkaloid in urine is the biomarker of choice, given its specificity and relatively long half-life.
- The specificity of this stain for this group of tumours is much lower.
- Individuals with the same history of sensitization have similar patterns of antibody specificities to latex proteins.
- These cytokeratins usually retain their tissue specificity in their neoplastic counterparts.
- Specificity of these bonds was confirmed by hybridization.
- 1.2Medicine count noun The extent to which a diagnostic test is specific for a particular condition, trait, etc.
the sensitivity of paramedics for diagnosis of stroke was 66%, with a specificity of 98%
Example sentencesExamples
- Combinations of signs and symptoms may increase the specificity.
- Both MRI and MRI arthrograms have poor sensitivity in detecting articular cartilage injury, but when it is detected, specificity is 100 per cent.
- The staging system has been modified to provide greater specificity for identifying patient groups with similar prognosis and treatment options.
- In the remaining studies, the calculated and reported specificities were the same.
- Exercise testing performed with myocardial perfusion imaging improves the sensitivity and specificity for the detection of restenosis.
Definition of specificity in US English:
specificity
nounˌspɛsəˈfɪsədiˌspesəˈfisədē
1The quality of belonging or relating uniquely to a particular subject.
the statement of special educational needs lacked specificity
count noun the historical specificities of the texts cannot be overlooked
Example sentencesExamples
- A lack of specificity becomes an issue when they decline to identify any of the tax loopholes they propose closing.
- The specificity of architectural form depends on tightly defined relations of elements.
- The specificity of art objects needs to be placed back into history, not separated from it.
- She growled whether I wanted a large or a small mineral water, and when I asked for specificity, she testily conceded that 'large' was a litre.
- For the investigators, the specificity of the vandals' targets indicates that the thefts of the major pieces were pre-planned to some degree.
- 1.1Biology The narrowness of the range of substances with which an antibody or other agent acts or is effective.
the specificity of the antibody was checked
Example sentencesExamples
- The specificity of this stain for this group of tumours is much lower.
- Individuals with the same history of sensitization have similar patterns of antibody specificities to latex proteins.
- Specificity of these bonds was confirmed by hybridization.
- Presently, this alkaloid in urine is the biomarker of choice, given its specificity and relatively long half-life.
- These cytokeratins usually retain their tissue specificity in their neoplastic counterparts.
- 1.2Medicine The extent to which a diagnostic test is specific for a particular condition, trait, etc.
the sensitivity of paramedics for diagnosis of stroke was 66%, with a specificity of 98%
Example sentencesExamples
- In the remaining studies, the calculated and reported specificities were the same.
- The staging system has been modified to provide greater specificity for identifying patient groups with similar prognosis and treatment options.
- Exercise testing performed with myocardial perfusion imaging improves the sensitivity and specificity for the detection of restenosis.
- Both MRI and MRI arthrograms have poor sensitivity in detecting articular cartilage injury, but when it is detected, specificity is 100 per cent.
- Combinations of signs and symptoms may increase the specificity.