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

Millions of shoppers are expected to visit malls, big-box stores and specialty retailers on Friday, but millions more are expected to stay at home and shop online from their phones and computers. —Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 28 Nov. 2025

Black Friday is the one moment of the year where all the rug brands converge to roll out their biggest markdowns of the year, from the likes of Nordic Knots to the wide-and-far retailers like Ruggable that make the business of underfoot fabrics their specialty. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025

Their specialty linens and artisan sundries, such as stone-ground grits, make excellent host gifts. —Stephanie Hunt, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025

Savi Provisions, which owns and operates Azalea Fresh Market along with 24 other specialty supermarkets across Georgia and North Carolina, said the alliance reinforces the company's commitment to Atlanta. —Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025

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