Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

specimen

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of specimen

1 a member of the human race

  • he's a particularly handsome specimen
Synonyms of specimen

baby, being, bird, bod [British], body, character, cookie (or cooky), creature, customer, devil, duck, egg, face, fish, guy, head, human, human being, individual, life, man, mortal, party, person, personage, scout, slob, sort, soul, stiff, thing, wight
Words Related to specimen

hominid, homo, humanoid

brother, fellow, fellowman, neighbor

celebrity, personality, self, somebody
Phrases Synonymous with specimen

son of man
Near Antonyms of specimen

animal, beast, beastie, brute, critter

2 one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like

  • chose one frog as a good specimen of the breed
Synonyms of specimen

case, example, exemplar, exemplification, illustration, instance, prototype, representative, sample
Words Related to specimen

archetype, classic, locus classicus, paradigm

cross section, microcosm

evidence, indication, manifestation, sign
Phrases Synonymous with specimen

case in point

Synonym Discussion of specimen

instance, case, illustration, example, sample, specimen mean something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category. instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain.
    • an instance of history repeating itself
case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with.
    • a case of mistaken identity
illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement.
    • a telling illustration of Murphy's Law
example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case.
    • a typical example of bureaucratic waste
sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities.
    • show us a sample of your work
specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available.
    • one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

Learn More about specimen

  1. Dictionary: Definition of specimen Medical Dictionary: Definition of specimen Spanish Central: Translation of specimen Nglish: Translation of specimen for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of specimen for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up specimen? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

mawkish

exaggeratedly or childishly emotional

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. nationalism, nationalist Trump makes claims at Texas rally

  2. rogue Trump speculates on Saudi journalist's fate

  3. nepotism Trump muses about Ivanka UN appointment

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games