particular

adjective

par·tic·u·lar | \ pər-ˈti-kyə-lər

, pə-, -k(ə-)lər\

Definition of particular

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

3a : 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

4a : 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

5a : 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

particular

noun

Definition of particular (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : 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 incidentbill of particulars

2a : 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

Other Words from particular Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about particular

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Choose the Right Synonym for particular

Adjective

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

Noun

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

Examples of particular in a Sentence

Adjective

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.

Noun

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 on the Web: Adjective

Trump, of course, has made Europe in general and Germany in particular a target of his animus and has dismissed the value of NATO and the European Union. — Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, "Forget “No Collusion,” Trump Is Now Pro-Collusion," 14 June 2019 In particular, the agency is looking to upgrade the cruise terminal. — Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, "Business is booming in Boston’s industrial port," 13 June 2019 During the campaign, Lightfoot frequently said the city’s fees in particular need to be re-evaluated to eliminate measures that are considered regressive, like red-light cameras that aren’t there for safety reasons. — Gregory Pratt, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot: 'No question' city will need more tax money from residents," 13 June 2019 Most in Hong Kong have no doubt that Beijing, and Chinese President Xi Jinping in particular, are pulling the strings behind this law. — Washington Post, "Beijing was already looking for ways to rein in Hong Kong. A gruesome Taiwan murder gave it a rare opening.," 13 June 2019 Trumbo, in particular, would like to search for any organics that might have spilled onto the surface along with the salt. — Shannon Hall, Scientific American, "Water on Europa—with a Pinch of Salt," 12 June 2019 But that pairing has been grafted on to an airless setting (the London branch of the MiB, a secret agency that polices alien activity on earth) and a hopelessly convoluted plot, which adds up to 114 minutes of nothing in particular. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "Men in Black: International Forgets What Made the Original So Great," 12 June 2019 Professor Feldstein clashed at times with members of the Reagan administration and White House staff, in particular Treasury Secretary Donald T. Regan. — Sapna Maheshwari, New York Times, "Martin Feldstein, 79, a Chief Economist Under Reagan, Dies," 12 June 2019 O'Rourke also plans to direct the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate crimes against transgender people, in particular transgender women of color. — Tim Perry And Sarah Ewall-wice, CBS News, "Beto O'Rourke unveils plan to strengthen LGBTQ protections," 12 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The particulars of Manning’s new case are complicated. — Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, "Chelsea Manning Has Been Imprisoned for Resisting a Grand Jury Investigation. Here’s Why She Should Be Freed," 11 Mar. 2019 Morgan Stanley in particular has invested big in artificial intelligence meant to let brokers take on more business by freeing them from certain daily tasks, such as automating some client communication on volatile days. — Lisa Beilfuss, WSJ, "The Price of Financial Advice Is, Finally, Falling," 7 Oct. 2018 Built in 1717, the 4-story hôtel particular was once home to The Comtesse de Castiglione (photography’s first muse) before it was acquired by Frédéric Boucheron in 1893. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, "Jewelry Maison Boucheron Reopens its Place Vendôme Boutique With a Sparkling Dinner," 21 Jan. 2019 In addition to the particulars of the grape, there is the question of how exactly the wine is made. — Rachel Sugar, Vox, "Here is why you look like a vampire.," 18 Dec. 2018 The approach serves several purposes, but the most important is to force viewers to concentrate on the interpersonal relationships in this film, not on its wretched particulars. — David Mermelstein, WSJ, "Cinematic Treasures From an Unexpected Place," 22 Jan. 2019 Each scene seems to represent both its particulars and something bigger — the quotidian reality of a painful moment in history. — Roberta Smith, New York Times, "What to See in New York Art Galleries This Week," 11 July 2018 But flashes of anxiety were minimal; a five-day window meant more time had to be spent writing our vows than worrying about the particulars. — Phoebe Lapine, Marie Claire, "How to Marry a Guy in Five Days," 18 Jan. 2019 The Seahawks defense in particular stepped up late in the game when one touchdown would’ve put the Vikings ahead. — Seattle Times Sports Staff, The Seattle Times, "What the national media are saying about the Seahawks’ win over the Vikings on #MNF," 11 Dec. 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.