specialty

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noun, often attributive spe·cial·ty \ ˈspe-shəl-tē \

Definition of specialty

plural specialties

1 :a distinctive mark or quality

2 a :a special object or class of objects: such as

(1) :a legal agreement embodied in a sealed instrument

(2) :a product of a special kind or of special excellence

fried chicken is my specialty

b :the state of being special, distinctive, or peculiar

3 :something in which one specializes

See specialty defined for English-language learners

See specialty defined for kids

Examples of specialty in a Sentence

Buttermilk pie is a Southern specialty.
a doctor with a specialty in internal medicine

Recent Examples of specialty from the Web

Its specialties include building and installing components that wrap around jet engines - including inlet cowls, fan cowls and thrust reversers - and refurbishing those and other components for jets already in service.

— lawrence specker, AL.com, "Foley aerospace plant dedicates expansion that will bring 260 new jobs," 24 Aug. 2017
Recognizing similarities between Portland and America’s Finest City’s cultural and economic climates, Higgins was ready to expand and become a part of the region’s flourishing specialty coffee community.

— carolina gusman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "The first-ever $60 taco donut, and it's here in San Diego," 23 Aug. 2017
The Chinese firm has yet to formally declare its interest in Jeep, but an acquisition would be in line with company Chairman Wang Jianjun’s goal, announced in February, of becoming the top specialty SUV producer by 2020.

— nathan borney, The Seattle Times, "Chinese automaker sets sights on buying Jeep," 21 Aug. 2017
His specialty is studying what happens when flowing lava meets ice and snow.

— mark barna, Discover Magazine, "The Lava Catcher," 21 Aug. 2017
The first commercial venues were international toy fairs and specialty stores.

— tom sancton, vanityfair.com, "These Thousand-Dollar Toys Are Not Just for Kids," 8 Aug. 2017
The figures listed are the percent of specialty Alabama or Auburn license plates sold for the most popular university in each county as compared to their rival.

— AL.com, "67 counties ranked by how much they love Alabama or Auburn," 14 July 2017
According to the Instagram snaps, the line will be available on Gucci.com as well as select Gucci stores and specialty stores, although there's no word yet on pricing, but—

— melissa minton, Glamour, "Gucci Home Decor Is Coming," 12 July 2017
For lunch, try Farmer and the Cook, an all-organic farm-to-table restaurant run by a husband and wife team that features everything from Mexican specialties to delicious gluten-free pizzas.

— zan romanoff, Bon Appetit, "Hightail It to Ojai, Your Best Weekend Escape from L.A.," 10 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of specialty

Middle English specialte, from Anglo-French especialté, from Late Latin specialitat-, specialitas, from Latin specialis special

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

specialty Synonyms

Synonyms

area, arena, bailiwick, barony, business, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, firmament, front, game, kingdom, line, precinct, province, realm, field, sphere, terrain, walk

Related Words

frontier; study, subject; territory, turf; occupation, profession, pursuit, racket, vocation; ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confine, dimension (s), extent, ken, reach, scope, sweep, width; subfield, subspecialty

SPECIALTY Defined for English Language Learners

specialty

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noun

Definition of specialty for English Language Learners

: something that a person or place is known for making or producing very well
: an area of study or business that a person specializes in or has special knowledge of

SPECIALTY Defined for Kids

specialty

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noun spe·cial·ty \ ˈspe-shəl-tē \

Definition of specialty for Students

plural specialties

:something for which a person or place is known

Pancakes are my speciality.

Good service is the restaurant's specialty.

Medical Dictionary

specialty

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noun spe·cial·ty \ ˈspesh-əl-tē \

medical Definition of specialty

plural specialties

:something (as a branch of medicine) in which one specializes

Law Dictionary

specialty

noun spe·cial·ty

legal Definition of specialty

plural specialties

[from the special form of the contract]

:formal contract at contract

2 :a doctrine providing that a person extradited can be prosecuted only for the charges described in the order for extradition

3 :real property (as a parcel of land or especially a structure) that is of such specialized character that no market for it exists and for which value upon condemnation is determined by the cost of reproduction less depreciation —used especially in New York