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Definition of specific
1a : constituting or falling into a specifiable categoryb : sharing or being those properties of something that allow it to be referred to a particular category
2a : restricted to a particular individual, situation, relation, or effect a disease specific to horsesb : exerting a distinctive influence (as on a body part or a disease) specific antibodies
3 : free from ambiguity : accurate a specific statement of faith
4 : of, relating to, or constituting a species and especially a biological species
5a : being any of various arbitrary physical constants and especially one relating a quantitative attribute to unit mass, volume, or areab : imposed at a fixed rate per unit (as of weight or count) specific import duties — compare ad valorem
Explore Merriam-Webster
Examples of specific in a Sentence
Is there anything specific you want for dinner?
There is a specific word for this kind of feeling.
a bird species that requires a specific environment
We were each given a specific topic to talk about.
The doctor gave the patient specific instructions on how to care for the wound.
Can you be more specific? What exactly did the policeman say?
He gave her a ring—or, to be more specific, he gave her an engagement ring.
She was very specific—you have to use a certain kind of tomato in the sauce.
an education plan specific to each student's interests and abilities
problems specific to this one housing project
Recent Examples of specific from the Web
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Pitino raises funds for the charter jet through his basketball-specific booster group, Friends of the Ville, and the jet is not owned by the university.
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Other football violations included the following: -- A player participated in an impermissible promotional activity -- A mid-year enrollee tweeting about hosting a specific recruit.
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Police also recently established a new policy requiring each untested kit to be labeled with the specific reason no testing has been done.
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In the early days, however, Kelly may prove that few stars have that kind of crossover potential in our current media environment—one in which content must be increasingly platform- and format-specific.
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Peloton didn’t give specific subscriber numbers, but aims to have 200,000 subscribers by the end of the year.
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In fact, Baby keeps a small arsenal of MP3 players in his pockets, each filled with a specific kind of music depending upon his mood and the task at hand.
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A Google spokeswoman on Friday said that such information is only pulled when the company gets specific requests from individuals.
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Neural networks are complex mathematical systems that can learn specific tasks by analyzing vast amounts of data.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'specific'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of specific
Late Latin specificus, from Latin species
Synonym Discussion of specific
explicit, definite, express, specific mean perfectly clear in meaning. explicit implies such verbal plainness and distinctness that there is no need for inference and no room for difficulty in understanding. explicit instructions definite stresses precise, clear statement or arrangement that leaves no doubt or indecision. the law is definite in such cases express implies both explicitness and direct and positive utterance. her express wishes specific applies to what is precisely and fully treated in detail or particular. two specific criticisms
specific
Definition of specific
1a : something peculiarly adapted to a purpose or useb : a drug or remedy having a specific mitigating effect on a disease used as a specific against malaria
2a : a characteristic quality or traitb : details, particulars —usually used in plural haggling over the legal and financial specifics of independence — Timec specifics plural : specification 2a
Examples of specific in a Sentence
quinine is a specific for malaria
although the speech was long on rhetoric and platitudinous generalities, it lacked specifics
First Known Use of specific
1661
-specific
Definition of -specific
: relating or applying specifically to or intended specifically for gender-specific
Origin and Etymology of -specific
1specific
SPECIFIC Defined for English Language Learners
specific
playDefinition of specific for English Language Learners
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: special or particular
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: clearly and exactly presented or stated : precise or exact
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: relating to a particular person, situation, etc.
SPECIFIC Defined for Kids
specific
playDefinition of specific for Students
1 : relating to or being an example of a certain kind of thing a specific case
2 : relating to a particular individual or situation There are problems specific to this project.
3 : clearly and exactly presented or stated specific directions
specifically
\-ˈsi-fi-kə-lē\ adverbMedical Dictionary
Medical Definition of specific
specific
Medical Definition of specific
: a drug or remedy having a specific mitigating effect on a disease
Law Dictionary
specific
playLegal Definition of specific
1 : relating to a particular thing
2 : intended for or restricted to a particular end or object
3 : being of a particularly identified kind or nature
Learn More about specific
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See words that rhyme with specific Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for specific Spanish Central: Translation of specific Nglish: Translation of specific for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of specific for Arabic speakers
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