specialize
verb
spe·cial·ize
ˈspe-shə-ˌlīz
specialized; specializing
1
a
: to concentrate one's efforts in a special activity, field, or practice
a doctor who specializes in pediatrics
an attorney who specializes in estate planning
Everywhere, the pressure is on young people to specialize.—Donald Kaul
b
: to have a characteristic, habitual way of behaving, speaking, etc.
… the halftime commentator on ESPN 2, who specialized in inanities throughout the tournament …—Jonathan Wilson
… a computer industry that seems to specialize in simultaneous hype and obfuscation …—Walter S. Mossberg
The anti-environmental presidency was orchestrated by administration insiders who have specialized in being out of touch …—Gregg Easterbrook
2
intransitive
biology
: to undergo specialization (see specialization sense 2) or differentiation
As cells begin to specialize into adult tissues, methylation seems to inactivate genes that are no longer needed.—John Travis
especially
: to change adaptively
… diversity comes about because each different fish has to specialize, to find its own niche where it can do better than its competitors. —Kenneth E. F. Watt
3
transitive
: to apply or direct (something or someone) to a specific end, use, or specialty
specialized their study
… media are evolving so quickly that education of the future will probably be forced to specialize students in one or another media-type, no longer producing a single "literate" man.—Henry G. Burger
Even some small police departments have seen fit to specialize their investigative units …—Daniel S. McDevitt
4
transitive
dated
: to make particular mention of (something) : specify, particularize
… Edward dares not specialize what alone he dreads.—Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Cite this Entry
“Specialize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specialize. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
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