specification

noun spec·i·fi·ca·tion \ ˌspe-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən , ˌspes-fə- \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of specification

1 : the act or process of specifying

2 a : a detailed precise presentation of something or of a plan or proposal for something —usually used in plural

b : a statement of legal particulars (as of charges or of contract terms); also : a single item of such statement

c : a written description of an invention for which a patent is sought

See specification defined for English-language learners

See specification defined for kids

Recent Examples of specification from the Web

Another of Apple's Oregon job postings seeks design verification expertise, a specialty for ensuring a finished product meets the original specifications.

— mike rogoway, OregonLive.com, "Apple quietly opens Oregon engineering lab, poaches from Intel," 30 May 2018
Last month the agency awarded a $23-million contract to BYD, declaring the company alone met city specifications.

— paige st. john, latimes.com, "Stalls, stops and breakdowns: Problems plague push for electric buses," 20 May 2018
There were no specifications requiring her to lower her chest to the ground or to stand all the way up at the top of every movement—the two missing elements that many critiqued.

— jenny mccoy, SELF, "How Australian Trainer Liz Llorente Trained to Do 1,490 Burpees in an Hour," 15 May 2018
Perhaps more important, the importation of parts can bolster a shipyard’s ability to deliver an affordable product that meets customers’ specifications.

— colin grabow, WSJ, "The Jones Act Drives America’s Finest Into Exile," 29 Apr. 2018
WebAuthn is a specification to allow browsers to expose hardware authentication devices—USB, Bluetooth, or NFC—to sites on the Web.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "Practical passwordless authentication comes a step closer with WebAuthn," 10 Apr. 2018
The idea backfired when some parts didn’t meet Boeing’s specifications, requiring expensive follow-up work that caused a three-year delay in the 787’s launch and spurred Boeing to write down more than $27 billion in losses.

— carol matlack, Bloomberg.com, "Airbus Outgrows Its European Home," 7 Feb. 2018
We, as designers, need to be empathetic to the business needs of our clients, not just product specifications and requirements.

— steve jagler, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Jagler: Mike Roberts, president of Brooks Stevens, designs for a smarter future," 5 Jan. 2018
This set was built to his meticulous specifications.

— david dusek, USA TODAY, "Tiger Woods has new clubs at the Wells Fargo Championship," 1 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'specification.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of specification

1633

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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SPECIFICATION Defined for English Language Learners

specification

noun

Definition of specification for English Language Learners

: a detailed description of work to be done or materials to be used in a project : an instruction that says exactly how to do or make something

SPECIFICATION Defined for Kids

specification

noun spec·i·fi·ca·tion \ ˌspe-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən \

Definition of specification for Students

1 : the act or process of mentioning exactly and clearly

2 : a single item exactly and clearly mentioned

3 : a description of work to be done or materials to be used —often used in pl.

building specifications

Law Dictionary

specification

noun spec·i·fi·ca·tion \ ˌspe-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən \

legal Definition of specification

: a detailed precise presentation of something or of a plan or proposal for something: as

a : a written statement containing a description of particulars (as of charges or contract terms)

b : a written description of an invention or discovery for which a patent is sought that embodies the manner and process of making and using the invention or discovery and concludes with a claim of that aspect for which the applicant demands credit

c : a written description of construction work to be done forming part of the contract —usually used in pl.