specific

1 of 3

adjective

spe·​cif·​ic spi-ˈsi-fik 

1

a

: constituting or falling into a specifiable category

b

: sharing or being those properties of something that allow it to be referred to a particular category

2

a

: restricted to a particular individual, situation, relation, or effect

a disease specific to horses

b

: exerting a distinctive influence (as on a body part or a disease)

specific antibodies

3

: free from ambiguity : accurate

a specific statement of faith

4

: of, relating to, or constituting a species and especially a biological species

5

a

: being any of various arbitrary physical constants and especially one relating a quantitative attribute to unit mass, volume, or area

b

: imposed at a fixed rate per unit (as of weight or count)

specific import duties

compare ad valorem

specific

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: something peculiarly adapted to a purpose or use

b

: a drug or remedy having a specific mitigating effect on a disease

used as a specific against malaria

2

a

: a characteristic quality or trait

b

: details, particulars

—usually used in plural

haggling over the legal and financial specifics of independence

—Time

c

specifics plural : specification sense 2a

-specific

3 of 3

combining form

: relating or applying specifically to or intended specifically for

gender-specific

Synonyms

Adjective

• concrete
• distinct
• especial
• express
• peculiar
• precise
• set
• special

Noun

• cure
• drug
• medicament
• medication
• medicinal
• medicine
• pharmaceutical
• physic
• remedy

Choose the Right Synonym for specific

special, especial, specific, particular, individual mean of or relating to one thing or class.

special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own.

special ingredients

especial may add implications of preeminence or preference.

a matter of especial importance

specific implies a quality or character distinguishing a kind or a species.

children with specific nutritional needs

particular stresses the distinctness of something as an individual.

a ballet step of particular difficulty

individual implies unequivocal reference to one of a class or group.

valued each individual opinion

explicit, definite, express, specific mean perfectly clear in meaning.

explicit implies such verbal plainness and distinctness that there is no need for inference and no room for difficulty in understanding.

explicit instructions

definite stresses precise, clear statement or arrangement that leaves no doubt or indecision.

the law is definite in such cases

express implies both explicitness and direct and positive utterance.

her express wishes

specific applies to what is precisely and fully treated in detail or particular.

two specific criticisms

Examples of specific in a Sentence

Adjective

Is there anything specific you want for dinner?

There is a specific word for this kind of feeling.

a bird species that requires a specific environment

We were each given a specific topic to talk about.

The doctor gave the patient specific instructions on how to care for the wound.

Can you be more specific? What exactly did the policeman say?

He gave her a ring—or, to be more specific, he gave her an engagement ring.

She was very specific—you have to use a certain kind of tomato in the sauce.

an education plan specific to each student's interests and abilities

problems specific to this one housing project

Noun

quinine is a specific for malaria

although the speech was long on rhetoric and platitudinous generalities, it lacked specifics

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Admission to the Milwaukee Art Museum will be free on both April 28 and June 6 as part of a new program called Free Day + Celebration — quarterly events at the art museum organized around a specific person or theme which include free admission, programs and activities. —Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024

Without calling out a specific incident, Google CEO Sundar Pichai indicated in a Thursday blog post that employees will be on a short leash as the company intensifies its efforts to improve its AI technology at a pivotal moment in the industry and, potentially, humanity. —Michael Liedtke, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024

Each pixel has a colored filter over it (either red, green, or blue), which only allows specific wavelengths of light to go through. —Briley Lewis, Popular Science, 18 Apr. 2024

And individual ones, such as clearing vegetation from specific areas around a home. —Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 18 Apr. 2024

Not being specific enough in describing the disability. —Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

Each brother has a specific role in the organization: Josh designs the physical locations, Jesse books the music and Dede runs the production. —Steve Appleford, SPIN, 18 Apr. 2024

Check with your pediatrician for specific instructions for you and your baby. —Maya Polton, Parents, 6 Apr. 2024

Streamlining Work Processes In addition to formal courses, there are various apps and tools designed to help professionals develop specific skills and stay productive in their day-to-day work. —Ebony Flake, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024

Noun

MacLeish declined to go into specifics about the cases and said Fares is not ready to talk publicly about Rutledge. —Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024

But as the specifics of Iran’s retaliation and Israel’s success at countering it became clear, most policymakers and observers outside the Middle East expressed cautious optimism that further escalation could be avoided. —Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2024

Facing multiple charges Parker will face multiple charges, authorities said, without going into specifics. —Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 12 Apr. 2024

The administration has not provided specifics on what type of firearms will be sent to Haiti, where armed gangs have used trafficking routes out of Florida, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic to illegally acquire weapons and ammunition. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024

Victor Narro, project director for the UCLA Labor Center and a national expert on immigrant rights, could not speak to the specifics of organizing at Wonderful Nurseries but said the company’s argument is a common one. —Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024

The announcement was short on specifics, but Cleveland Avenue's portfolio includes a company that manufactures robot servers for restaurants, another firm that makes gluten-free and vegan cookies and another that makes flour with zero carbohydrates and sugar. —The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2024

The safeguards that are required include assessing, testing and monitoring the impacts of the AI technology — but the specifics of the process are still unclear in this guidance. —Deepa Shivaram, NPR, 29 Mar. 2024

Clearly, there are a lot of rules involved, and the best course for you two will depend on the specifics of your situation. —Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Combining form

Late Latin specificus, from Latin species

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1631, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing specific

• application-specific integrated circuit
• gender-specific
• prostate-specific antigen
• specific epithet
• specific gravity
• specific heat
• specific impulse
• specific performance

Kids Definition

specific

1 of 2 adjective

spe·​cif·​ic spi-ˈsif-ik 

1

: relating to or being an example of a certain kind of thing

a specific case

was the question specific or general?

2

a

: restricted to a particular individual, situation, effect, or reaction

a disease specific to humans

a specific enzyme

b

: having one particular effect or influence (as on a body part or a disease)

quinine is specific for malaria

3

: clearly and exactly presented or stated

gave them specific directions

4

: of, relating to, or being a species

specifically

-ˈsif-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

specific

2 of 2 noun

1

: something specially adapted to a purpose or use

especially : a drug or remedy specific for a particular disease

2

plural : things that are specific : details, particulars

get down to specifics

Medical Definition

specific

1 of 2 adjective

spe·​cif·​ic spi-ˈsif-ik 

1

a

: restricted by nature to a particular individual, situation, relation, or effect

a disease specific to horses

b

: exerting a distinctive influence (as on a body part or a disease)

specific antibodies

2

: of, relating to, or constituting a species and especially a biological species

specific

2 of 2 noun

: a drug or remedy having a specific mitigating effect on a disease

Legal Definition

specific

adjective

spe·​cif·​ic spə-ˈsi-fik 

1

: relating to a particular thing

2

: intended for or restricted to a particular end or object

3

: being of a particularly identified kind or nature

specifically

-i-klē, -kə-lē 

adverb

specificity

ˌspe-sə-ˈfi-sə-tē 

noun