specimen

Synonym Chooser

How is the word specimen distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of specimen are case, example, illustration, instance, and sample. While all these words mean "something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category," specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available.

one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

When could case be used to replace specimen?

While in some cases nearly identical to specimen, 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

When would example be a good substitute for specimen?

The words example and specimen can be used in similar contexts, but example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case.

a typical example of bureaucratic waste

In what contexts can illustration take the place of specimen?

In some situations, the words illustration and specimen are roughly equivalent. However, illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement.

a telling illustration of Murphy's Law

When can instance be used instead of specimen?

The meanings of instance and specimen largely overlap; however, instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain.

an instance of history repeating itself

Where would sample be a reasonable alternative to specimen?

Although the words sample and specimen have much in common, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of specimen Gem and mineral specimens of note A number of prominent museums around the world house highly valuable collections. Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025 Foord tends to more than 2,000 tiny soft coral specimens growing in several large saltwater tanks. Greg Allen, NPR, 21 Oct. 2025 The piece includes petri dishes the pair used to develop these plants — there are actually specimens developing under a grow light — as well as six video monitors simultaneously showing their process of collecting human samples and grafting plants. Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025 For a more upscale look, seek out specimens with more texture and consider repotting them (maybe in a vase from an adjacent aisle). The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for specimen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specimen
Noun
  • One example of such smaller space weather events is a magnetic flux rope—bundles of magnetic fields wrapped around each other like a rope.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 24 Oct. 2025
  • One of the most famous examples of a major business leader succeeding from failure was Apple’s visionary cofounder Steve Jobs.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Police reportedly located the woman after reviewing a two-second security camera video clip, in which she was allegedly seen on a city sidewalk carrying something that appeared to be wrapped in a bundle and holding it as a person would typically hold a baby.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
  • One issue is that hypnosis has long been viewed as a form of entertainment, a stage show with a hypnotist and an audience, which can give viewers a sense that hypnosis is something done to you rather than a process that a person is led through.
    Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In total, the researchers analyzed 357 contemporary mosquitoes and 22 historical specimens, and used additional mosquito samples from a separate study, which beefed up the overall count to about 800.
    Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a national database that collects emergency department injury data from a representative sample of about 100 American hospitals, the researchers applied statistical weighting to estimate national injury rates.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Fabian Hurzeler’s team have had their best matches in this respect against Manchester City in August and 10-man Chelsea in September, converting five of seven big chances across both wins.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • A lot of men have killed their wives at a certain point.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This guy really broke her heart.
    Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
  • As Morgan and Jonah navigate shifting alliances, Clara grapples with her grief, compounded by her confusion as to what in God’s name is going on with her mom and uncle, plus a budding romance with local cool guy Miller (Mason Thames).
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The breakthrough could redefine the future of virtual and augmented reality by creating visuals that look identical to real life.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Rinderknecht is accused of starting the January blaze known as the Palisades Fires, which ultimately went on to claim the lives of 12 people and burn over 23,000 acres, according to a report from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The creatures are scavengers feeding on the seafloor and plankton as well as algae and waste particles.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Then, once your stay is over, guests hop right back on that glacier ferry for one more magical ride back to real life, but not before all those arctic creatures come out to wave goodbye.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Their names aren't included in the indictment, but several media outlets have reported that those individuals were his wife and daughter, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
    Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
  • More than one‑third of covered workers are enrolled in a plan with a deductible of $2,000 or more for an individual.
    Phil Galewitz, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Specimen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specimen. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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