specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty ˈspe-shəl-tē 

plural specialties

often attributive

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

Synonyms of specialty

• area
• department
• realm
• domain
• field
• element
• walk
• sphere

Examples of specialty in a Sentence

Buttermilk pie is a Southern specialty.

a doctor with a specialty in dermatology

Recent Examples on the Web

Guests can customize their pie with toppings of their choice or opt for a specialty pizza, like the Highway Special (a supreme) or a Cowtown Lovers (which comes with four meats). — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026

The hotel can arrange tours with excellent local guides on the subject of art, history, music, restaurants, or the supernatural, one of our city’s specialties. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026

Ken Shepard, head of specialty asset management at Bank of America Private Bank said that timberland is not a tactical asset class that can be easily entered or exited in response to short-term market conditions. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026

The actor studied cookbooks to practice her skills, and one of her specialties was the French dish pot-au-feu. — Juliana Ukiomogbe, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing specialty

• house specialty
• specialty of the house
• specialty shop
• sub-specialty

Rhymes for specialty

• subspecialty

Kids Definition

specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty ˈspesh-əl-tē 

plural specialties

1

: a product of a special kind or of special excellence

eggs were the cook's specialty

2

: something a person specializes in or has special knowledge of

Medical Definition

specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty ˈspesh-əl-tē 

plural specialties

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

Legal Definition

specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty

plural specialties

1

[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