spec

1 of 3

noun

ˈspek 

1

: specification

—usually used in plural

also : a single quantity (such as a dimension or a measure of performance) describing a product especially as part of a specification

2

: speculation

built the house on spec

spec

2 of 3

verb

specced or spec'd ˈspekt  ; speccing

transitive verb

: to write specifications for

spec

3 of 3

abbreviation

1

special; specialist

2

specifically

Examples of spec in a Sentence

Noun

parts built according to spec

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Once the new designs are approved (sometime this year, if all goes well), the DoB plans to publish the specs so that any contractor can download the design, buy off-the-shelf elements, tailor the structure to the site, and get a scheme approved in a matter of hours. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 24 June 2026

Skip TikTok Shop dupes that hide their specs. —Allison Palmer updated June 24, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026

Verb

Under the hood, buyers can spec the truck with Ford’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel—the most powerful diesel engine in its class—or a high-output 7.3-liter gas V8. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 May 2026

Audi posted its total system output at 630 hp (officially, 639 metric horsepower), but specs the gas engine output at 503 hp (510 ps) and electric output at 175 hp (177 ps), which adds up to 678. —Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

by alteration

First Known Use

Noun

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1965, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spec

• on spec

Rhymes for spec

• beck
• breck
• check
• cheque
• czech
• deck
• fleck
• keck
• mech
• neck
• peck
• reck

Kids Definition

spec

noun

ˈspek

: specification sense 2a

—usually used in plural

Legal Definition

spec

transitive verb

ˈspek

specced or spec'd ˈspekt  ; speccing

ˈspe-kiŋ

: to write specifications for