specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty ˈspe-shəl-tē How to pronounce specialty (audio)
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

Examples of specialty in a Sentence

Buttermilk pie is a Southern specialty. a doctor with a specialty in dermatology
Recent Examples on the Web Photo: Courtesy of Stockman Some of the specialty mannequins. Amy Verner, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2024 The specialty dumplings can be steamed, boiled, fried, or heated in the microwave without defrosting for a quick carbonara bite. Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024 At the specialty box office, Sony opens Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night — a love letter to the long-running NBC sketch-comedy show Saturday Night Live — in four locations in New York and Los Angeles. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2024 And with so many specialty food makers here in Wisconsin, that's not hard to do. Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 26 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for specialty 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'specialty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of specialty was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near specialty

Cite this Entry

“Specialty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specialty. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

specialty

noun
spe·​cial·​ty ˈspesh-əl-tē How to pronounce specialty (audio)
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 How to pronounce specialty (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on specialty

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