nonspecific
adjEtymology From non- + specific.
› Not specific or precise, as:
1
Medicine, Sciences Not specific to one possible cause; caused by any of various possible causes.
Of a symptom or other finding
- See also: nonspecific symptom, specificity
2
Medicine, Sciences Of an antimicrobial Not specific to one pathogen; affecting multiple strains or species of pathogen.
3
Medicine, Sciences Of an infection Not known to be caused by any specific pathogen.
4
Medicine, Sciences Of a person's immunity Not caused by previous infection or vaccination, and/or affecting more than one antigen.
5
Medicine, Sciences Of a stain in microscopy That does not just stain one type of tissue.
- Synonyms
- unspecific, inspecific
- Derived terms
- nonspecificity