particular

1 of 2

adjective

par·​tic·​u·​lar pər-ˈti-kyə-lər How to pronounce particular (audio)
pə-,
-k(ə-)lər
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

particular

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: an individual fact, point, circumstance, or detail
a hero in every particularRon 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
Phrases
in particular
1
: in distinction from others : specifically
2
archaic : a separate part of a whole
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
Read on as Newman also previews a big season for one particular firefighter. Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2024 That last survey was a particular boon for Trump, given the pollster's last survey in Arizona had Harris up by 5 — a 10-point swing toward Trump. G. Elliott Morris, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2024
Noun
Get the particulars while Mercury confronts Jupiter. USA TODAY, 21 Sep. 2024 The pricing of each design is impacted by the particulars — fabric, embellishments like beading, time frame, complexity — but custom requests tend to start in the mid-five figures, and range much higher depending on the designer. Kristen Tauer, WWD, 19 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for particular 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'particular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

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

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of particular was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near particular

Cite this Entry

“Particular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/particular. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

particular

1 of 2 adjective
par·​tic·​u·​lar pə(r)-ˈtik-(y)ə-lər How to pronounce particular (audio)
-ˈtik-lər
1
: of or relating to the separate parts of a whole
each particular item on the list
2
: of or relating to a single person or thing
my particular skills
3
: very unusual : special
a storm of particular violence
4
: hard to please : fastidious
particular about their clothes

particular

2 of 2 noun
: an individual fact, detail, or item

Legal Definition

particular

adjective
par·​tic·​u·​lar
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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