nonspecific

N1O1N1S1P3E1C3I1F4I1C3

adjective

Not specific to one possible cause; caused by any of various possible causes.

“See also: nonspecific symptom, specificity”

Similar
unspecificinspecific
Opposite
pathognomonicspecific
Less commonScrabble 20
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Meanings

adjectivenonspecific (not comparable)

alternative non-specific

  1. Not specific or precise, as:
    1. not comparablemedicineNot specific to one possible cause; caused by any of various possible causes.

      See also: nonspecific symptom, specificity

      Antonyms: pathognomonic

    2. not comparablemedicineNot specific to one pathogen; affecting multiple strains or species of pathogen.
    3. not comparablemedicineNot known to be caused by any specific pathogen.
    4. not comparablemedicineNot caused by previous infection or vaccination, and/or affecting more than one antigen.
    5. not comparablemedicineThat does not just stain one type of tissue.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveNot specific to one possible cause; caused by any of various possible causes.

Opposite
pathognomonic
Similar
unspecificinspecific

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivenot caused by a specific agent; used also of staining in making microscope slides

Opposite
specific
Also see
abstractcatholiccommongeneralgenericunspecific

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From non- + specific.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

nonspecific. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nonspecific

MLA

“nonspecific.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nonspecific. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nonspecific,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nonspecific.

Source: nonspecific on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.