specificity
UK: ˌspesɪˈfɪsɪti | US: ˌspɛsəˈfɪsɪti
n. the quality of being specific or precise
n. (biology) the selective attachment of a molecule to a particular target
n. (statistics) the proportion of true negatives correctly identified
The word "specificity" derives from the Latin specificus, meaning "constituting a kind or sort" (species "kind" + -ficus "making"). The suffix -ity (from Latin -itas) transforms the adjective "specific" into a noun denoting the quality of precision or selectivity. Over time, it gained specialized meanings in biology (selective binding) and statistics (accuracy in classification).
The specificity of her instructions left no room for confusion.
Antibody specificity ensures it targets only one antigen.
High specificity in medical tests reduces false positives.
The lawyer praised the contract for its legal specificity.
Researchers measured the test's specificity to validate its reliability.