specialty

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

Updated on: 17 May 2018

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 specialty, somewhat uniquely, is earning money for the ruling regime.

— Fortune, "Cyberwar: How Nations Attack Without Bullets Or Bombs," 12 May 2018
And along with the big bets and even bigger hats, the classic Southern bourbon specialty, the mint julep, will be taking center stage.

— matthew libassi, Fox News, "Kentucky Derby guests can sip this $1,000 mint julep for a good cause," 4 May 2018
There also will be sacred works by Anton Bruckner, Kim André Arnesen and local composer Geoff Wilcken, as well as William Baker specialties, music from the Sacred Harp and African-American traditions.

— patrick neas, kansascity, "‘Peter Pan’ will fly high at the Kansas City Ballet | The Kansas City Star," 4 May 2018
Even the bucatini carbonara feels like a local specialty, thanks to a generous addition of smoky meat.

— Bloomberg.com, "Bloomberg," 2 May 2018
The house specialty, telline, is a pile of tiny, iridescent clams steamed and served simply with homemade aioli.

— stephen heyman, Condé Nast Traveler, "Arles, France’s Old Arts Mecca, Is Also Its Newest," 1 May 2018
Psychiatry is among medical specialties that faces severe shortfall in the coming years, according to Florida health officials.

— naseem s. miller, OrlandoSentinel.com, "UCF to bring first psychiatry residency program to area," 25 Apr. 2018
The multi-specialty medical practice has other locations in Plantation, Weston, Pembroke Pines, and Dania Beach.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "CRIME," 12 Apr. 2018
The facility will include a variety of medical services, including primary care, OB/GYN, oral surgery and other specialties, the university health system announced on Monday.

— AL.com, "Google, Facebook, UAB Health in today's business news," 10 Apr. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

specialty Synonyms

Synonyms

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

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

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

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