Nonspecific: meaning, definitions and examples
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nonspecific
[ nɒn.sɪˈspɪf.ɪk ]
lack of detail
The term 'nonspecific' is commonly used in fields such as medicine and science to describe symptoms, signs, or findings that do not have a distinct or identifiable cause. It implies that the observed phenomenon is generalized and may apply to multiple conditions or categories. For example, nonspecific symptoms could refer to vague discomforts that do not point to a precise diagnosis. In research, nonspecific results may indicate findings that lack clear correlation to specific variables or hypotheses.
Synonyms
ambiguous, general, indeterminate, vague
Examples of usage
- The patient presented with nonspecific abdominal pain.
- His nonspecific complaints made diagnosis difficult.
- The study reported nonspecific outcomes for the treatment.
Translations
Translations of the word "nonspecific" in other languages:
🇵🇹 não específico
🇮🇳 विशिष्ट नहीं
🇩🇪 unspezifisch
🇮🇩 tidak spesifik
🇺🇦 неспецифічний
🇵🇱 niespecyficzny
🇯🇵 非特異的な
🇫🇷 non spécifique
🇪🇸 no específico
🇹🇷 belirli olmayan
🇰🇷 비특이적
🇸🇦 غير محدد
🇨🇿 nespecifický
🇸🇰 nespecifický
🇨🇳 非特定的
🇸🇮 nespecifičen
🇮🇸 ótilgreint
🇰🇿 нақты емес
🇬🇪 არასპეციფიური
🇦🇿 xüsusi deyil
🇲🇽 no específico
Etymology
The term 'nonspecific' is derived from the combination of 'non-', a prefix meaning 'not' or 'without', and 'specific', which originates from the Latin word 'specificus', meaning 'particular or distinguishing'. The prefix 'non-' is used to negate a particular quality or characteristic, while 'specific' refers to something that is precise or clearly defined. The use of 'nonspecific' dates back to the mid-20th century, mainly within medical and scientific contexts where it is critical to differentiate between signs and symptoms that are broadly descriptive and those that are clearly defined. Historically, the growing complexity of medical diagnoses and research findings necessitated the need for terminology that could accurately describe conditions that do not fit neatly into established categories. As a result, 'nonspecific' became a useful descriptor in clinical and academic discussions to communicate uncertainty or to categorize observations that could relate to multiple causes.