nonspecific
adjective
non·spe·cif·ic
ˌnän-spi-ˈsi-fik 
: not specific: such as
a
: lacking in detail or particulars
nonspecific answers
a nonspecific description
b
: not caused by a specific or identified agent
nonspecific enteritis
c
: not restricted to a particular category, situation, or group
nonspecific flu-like symptoms
d
: not affecting a particular region or part
nonspecific pain
e
: having a general purpose, effect, or action : lacking in specificity
nonspecific antiviral agents
nonspecific irritants
nonspecifically
adverb
After a toxic protein is released into the bloodstream, it is taken up by macrophages, cells that nonspecifically scavenge and ingest various substances.
—
Harald von Boehmer and Pawel Kisielow
Harald von Boehmer and Pawel Kisielow
Synonyms
Examples of nonspecific in a Sentence
his criticism of the picture is fairly nonspecific, but he clearly doesn't like it
Recent Examples on the Web
These blood tests are for nonspecific markers, and cannot tell if and where a person may have cancer, so at least one imaging test, usually a PET-CT scan, is needed to confirm (or refute) the positive test.
—Sanket S. Dhruva and Rita F. Redberg, STAT, 11 June 2024
Diagnosing leptospirosis can be challenging due to its nonspecific symptoms and the need for specialized laboratory tests, Labus explained.
PCR tests on blood and urine are available through commercial labs.
—Syeda Khaula Saad, Verywell Health, 24 Apr. 2024
Symptoms of chromium exposure from eating contaminated food may be nonspecific and are similar in both children and adults, according to the FDA.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 5 Jan. 2024
What Are the Signs of Cushing’s? Cushing's syndrome can be hard to diagnose because many of the symptoms are nonspecific, Fleseriu said.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 29 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nonspecific 
Sanket S. Dhruva and Rita F. Redberg, STAT, 11 June 2024
Diagnosing leptospirosis can be challenging due to its nonspecific symptoms and the need for specialized laboratory tests, Labus explained.
PCR tests on blood and urine are available through commercial labs.
—Syeda Khaula Saad, Verywell Health, 24 Apr. 2024
Symptoms of chromium exposure from eating contaminated food may be nonspecific and are similar in both children and adults, according to the FDA.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 5 Jan. 2024
What Are the Signs of Cushing’s? Cushing's syndrome can be hard to diagnose because many of the symptoms are nonspecific, Fleseriu said.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 29 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nonspecific
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nonspecific.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near nonspecific
Cite this Entry
“Nonspecific.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonspecific. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
nonspecific
adjective
non·spe·cif·ic
-spi-ˈsif-ik
: not specific: as
a
: not caused by a specific or identified agent
nonspecific enteritis
b
: not restricted to a particular category, situation, or group
nonspecific flu-like symptoms
c
: not affecting a particular region or part
nonspecific pain
d
: having a general purpose, effect, or action
nonspecific antiviral agents
nonspecific irritants
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