specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty ˈspe-shəl-tē 

plural specialties

often attributive

1

: a distinctive mark or quality

2

a

: a special object or class of objects: such as

(1)

: a legal agreement embodied in a sealed instrument

(2)

: a product of a special kind or of special excellence

fried chicken is my specialty

b

: the state of being special, distinctive, or peculiar

3

: something in which one specializes

Synonyms

• area
• arena
• bailiwick
• barony
• business
• circle
• demesne
• department
• discipline
• domain
• element
• fief
• fiefdom
• field
• firmament
• front
• game
• kingdom
• line
• precinct
• province
• realm
• sphere
• terrain
• walk

Examples of specialty in a Sentence

Buttermilk pie is a Southern specialty.

a doctor with a specialty in dermatology

Recent Examples on the Web

What was once the family's backyard is now home to the pool, a private event space, and a specialty restaurant. —Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2024

The new shopping center brought with it the specialty grocer Sprouts and fitness chain EoS Fitness into Brevard County. —Michelle Prado, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024

Image The attendees: Heading up the food was Gavin McLaughlin, 45, a chef and the owner of the catering and specialty foods company Portage Foods. —Vanessa Golembewski, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024

Sesame has primary care doctors, nurse practitioners, more than 40 health specialties and lab and imaging centers. —USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024

Ramps can sometimes be found through specialty produce markets or online retailers. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2024

At $43, a bottle of XO Cafe isn't as expensive as many other specialty liqueurs, which could be why Bacardi discontinued it. —Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2024

Named for one of the family’s goats, Fat Maddie’s uses organic eggs, herbs and produce from the family farm just outside Danville for its artisanal salads, sandwiches, gyros and specialty burgers. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024

Tracing one container through a broken global supply chain Nov. 5, 2021 Gulf Coast and western ports, such as those in Los Angeles and Long Beach, have more capacity for specialty containers and bulk goods, Cherin said. —Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English specialte, from Anglo-French especialté, from Late Latin specialitat-, specialitas, from Latin specialis special

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing specialty

• specialty of the house
• specialty shop
• sub-specialty

Kids Definition

specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty ˈspesh-əl-tē 

plural specialties

1

: a product of a special kind or of special excellence

eggs were the cook's specialty

2

: something a person specializes in or has special knowledge of

Medical Definition

specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty ˈspesh-əl-tē 

plural specialties

: something (as a branch of medicine) in which one specializes

Legal Definition

specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty

plural specialties

1

[from the special form of the contract] : formal contract at contract

2

: a doctrine providing that a person extradited can be prosecuted only for the charges described in the order for extradition

3

: real property (as a parcel of land or especially a structure) that is of such specialized character that no market for it exists and for which value upon condemnation is determined by the cost of reproduction less depreciation

—used especially in New York