particular

adjective par·tic·u·lar \ pər-ˈti-kyə-lər , pə- , -k(ə-)lər \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: particular in a Sentence

Definition of particular

1 : of, relating to, or being a single person or thing

the particular person I had in mind

2 : of, relating to, or concerned with details

gave us a very particular account of the trip

3 a : distinctive among other examples or cases of the same general category : notably unusual

suffered from measles of particular severity

This computer program will be of particular interest to teachers.

b : being one unit or element among others

particular incidents in a story

4 a : concerned over or attentive to details : meticulous

a very particular gardener

b : nice in taste : fastidious

She's very particular about her clothes.

c : hard to please : exacting

never loses patience even with the most particular customers

5 a : denoting an individual member or subclass in logic

b : affirming or denying a predicate to a part of the subject —used of a proposition in logic

"some men are wise" is a particular affirmative

6 obsolete : partial

See particular defined for English-language learners

See particular defined for kids

Examples of particular in a Sentence

The computer program will be of particular interest to teachers.
Pay particular attention to the poet's choice of words.
Our teacher is very particular when it comes to punctuation.

Recent Examples of particular from the Web

While proposals about separating California have been bandied about for years, Golden State voters will have their say on this particular initiative in November.

— madison park, CNN, "Initiative to break California into 3 states to go on November ballot," 13 June 2018
At that particular time, Will’s career was just taking off and somebody has to hold the fort down at home.

— mike miller, PEOPLE.com, "Jada Pinkett Smith Says Her 20-Year Marriage to Will Smith Is a ‘Very, Very Unique Partnership'," 13 June 2018
The Knights of Labor in particular risked violence to unite workers across racial lines in opposition to low wages, inhumane working hours and other indignities.

— sarah jones, The New Republic, "Lessons From the Gilded Age," 13 June 2018
While the recommendations will still exist elsewhere after that date, anyone hoping to find out, say, how best to treat a teenager with asthma, or who should have a particular test, will have to work harder to locate the most current guidance.

— ivan oransky, STAT, "Trump administration is shutting down practice-guidelines clearinghouse for doctors," 13 June 2018
The American Heart Association does not endorse any particular diet but has not spoken out against a ketogenic one.

— katie parsons, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Ketogenic diet popular for weight loss," 13 June 2018
Twitter’s Moments, which feature a curated selection of tweets around particular topics and events, will also receive a redesign.

— alyssa newcomb /, NBC News, "Twitter introduces personalized news alerts ahead of the World Cup," 13 June 2018
This wasn't Johnston's first encounter with this particular employee, who has called police on him multiple times.

— maya dukmasova, Chicago Reader, "News / Politics / Transportation Singer welcomed by America's Got Talent—but not the CTA," 12 June 2018
Of particular note: The rates of delinquency from school are lower among boys whose fathers actively participate in their care.

— bevone ritchie, m.s., miamiherald, "Male role models make a huge impact on a child's life," 12 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'particular.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of particular

Middle English particuler, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin particularis, from Latin particula small part

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

particular Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of particular

circumstantial, minute, particular, detailed mean dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point. circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space.

- a circumstantial account of our visit

minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details.

- a minute examination of a fossil

particular implies a precise attention to every detail.

- a particular description of the scene of the crime

detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail.

- a detailed analysis of the event

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

particular

noun

Definition of particular

1 a : an individual fact, point, circumstance, or detail

a hero in every particular
—Ron Fimrite

b : a specific item or detail of information —usually used in plural

wanted to know all the particulars of the incident

bill of particulars

2 a : an individual or a specific subclass (as in logic) falling under some general concept or term

b : a particular proposition in logic

— in particular

: in distinction from others : specifically

3 archaic : a separate part of a whole

See particular defined for English-language learners

Examples of particular in a Sentence

They wanted to know the facts down to every particular.
requested a bill of particulars for the care he received in the hospital

Recent Examples of particular from the Web

In terms of the particulars, we’re prohibited legally from saying anything further.

— nerisha penrose, Billboard, "Lil Wayne Reaches Settlement in Lawsuit Against Cash Money," 7 June 2018
In October 2017, The Express ran an article detailing some of the particulars of the queen’s salary (increased by £6 million to £82.2m) and wrote that around £4.5m was spent on travel by the queen in 2016 alone.

— refinery29.com, "I Don't Give A Single Sh*t About The Royal Wedding, With Good Reason," 18 May 2018
The talks aren't expected to include security issues, but rather focus first on the particulars of any North Korean participation in Pyeongchang, a ski village serving as the base for the Games.

— matt stiles, latimes.com, "Is North Korean leader Kim Jong Un now trying to portray himself as a statesman?," 5 Jan. 2018
There's a good grasp of period, an impressive impersonation of the author-hero by an almost unrecognizable Johnny Depp, and a determination to honor the original in all its gross-out particulars.

— patrick friel, Chicago Reader, "Books / Film / Foreign / History / On Video / Poetry Five literary biopics whose pictures are worth a thousand words," 30 May 2018
Not in its particulars, but there’s a lot of emotion and anxiety in the work that is drawn from life.

— chloe schama, Vogue, "Rumaan Alam on Writing From the Female Perspective, Breastfeeding Struggles Included," 7 May 2018
As much as Remy draws on the particulars, her focus is ultimately on the universal.

— nathaniel friedman, GQ, "U.S. Girls Isn’t Selling Out—She’s Just Writing Bops," 26 Apr. 2018
As with many ideas with diverse support at high levels, the particulars of execution can make or break UBI in practice.

— joi ito, WIRED, "The Paradox of Universal Basic Income," 29 Mar. 2018
The league’s current collective-bargaining agreement with the Players Association expires following the 2021 season, and the union will surely seek to bring the economic particulars more in line with the contemporary understanding of the game.

— robert o'connell, The Atlantic, "The Issue at the Heart of MLB's Free-Agency Debate," 22 Feb. 2018

Origin and Etymology of particular

see ¹particular

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year

particular Synonyms

Synonyms

detail, item, point;

Near Antonyms

aggregate, composite, compound, conglomerate;

entirety, sum, summation, total, totality, whole;

characteristic, component, constituent, element, factor, feature, member;

ingredient;

division, particle, partition, piece, portion, section, segment;

Synonym Discussion of particular

item, detail, particular mean one of the distinct parts of a whole. item applies to each thing specified separately in a list or in a group of things that might be listed or enumerated.

- every item on the list

detail applies to one of the small component parts of a larger whole such as a task, building, painting, narration, or process.

- leave the details to others

particular stresses the smallness, singleness, and especially the concreteness of a detail or item.

- a description that included few particulars

PARTICULAR Defined for English Language Learners

particular

adjective

Definition of particular for English Language Learners

—used to indicate that one specific person or thing is being referred to and no others
: special or more than usual
: having very definite opinions about what is good or acceptable

particular

noun

Definition of particular for English Language Learners

: a specific detail or piece of information

PARTICULAR Defined for Kids

particular

adjective par·tic·u·lar \ pər-ˈti-kyə-lər \

Definition of particular for Students

1 : relating to one person or thing

Each city has its particular problems.

2 : not usual : special

Pay particular attention to correct spelling.

3 : having strong opinions about what is acceptable

He's very particular about food.

4 : being one of several

Which particular bike would you like?

5 : concerned about details

Our teacher is very particular.

—

particularly

adverb

— in particular

1 : that can be specifically named

I wasn't referring to anyone in particular.

2 : more specially than others : especially

She loves flowers and roses in particular.

particular

noun

Definition of particular for Students

: a single fact or detail

The account was correct in every particular.

Law Dictionary

particular

adjective par·tic·u·lar

legal Definition of particular

in the civil law of Louisiana : of or relating to a designated property or to the inheritance of it — compare universal

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Definition of particular

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Origin and Etymology of particular

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particular

Definition of particular

Examples of particular in a Sentence

Recent Examples of particular from the Web

Origin and Etymology of particular

particular Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of particular

PARTICULAR Defined for English Language Learners

particular

Definition of particular for English Language Learners

particular

Definition of particular for English Language Learners

PARTICULAR Defined for Kids

particular

Definition of particular for Students

particularly

particular

Definition of particular for Students

Law Dictionary

particular

legal Definition of particular

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