specialty

[spesh-uhl-tee]

noun

plural

specialties 

1. a special or distinctive quality, mark, state, or condition.

2. a special subject of study, line of work, area of interest, or the like.

   His specialty is art criticism.

3. an article or service particularly dealt in, rendered, manufactured, etc., or one to which the provider, dealer, or manufacturer claims to devote special care.

   The manufacturer's specialty is fine hats.

   Synonyms: forte, badge, stamp, trademark

4. an article of unusual or superior design or quality.

5. a novelty; a new article.

6. an article with such strong consumer demand that it is at least partially removed from price competition.

7. a special or particular point, item, matter, characteristic, or peculiarity.

8. Law.

   1. a special agreement, contract, etc., expressed in an instrument under seal.

   2. a negotiable instrument not under seal.

adjective

1. Theater.,  (in vaudeville)

   1. performing or performed in a manner that is unusual or not customary for a type of act, especially a performance involving dexterity or ingenuity, as a patter song.

      specialty actor; specialty act.

   2. (of a song or dance) isolated from the rest of the show.

      specialty number.

specialty

/ ˈspɛʃəltɪ /

noun

1. law a formal contract or obligation expressed in a deed

2. a special interest or skill

3. 1. a service or product specialized in, as at a restaurant

      roast beef was a specialty of the house

   2. ( as modifier )

      a specialty dish

4. a special or distinguishing feature or characteristic

Word History and Origins

Origin of specialty¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English specialte, specialite “particular affection, fondness,” from Old French especialte, specialte “special quality, favor, or privilege,” from Latin speciālitāt- (inflectional stem of speciālitās) “particularity, peculiarity”; special, -ity

Example Sentences

When an AI server needs to send data from a graphics processing unit, light signals travel from switch to switch on specialty cables manufactured by Amphenol.

Read more on MarketWatch

Union Square Cafe uses a specialty blend of brisket, short rib and chuck developed with Manhattan butcher Pat LaFrieda.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When restaurants couldn’t divulge their secret recipes, some attempts required a full reverse-engineering to figure them out — a specialty of L.A.-based recipe developer and food stylist Jasmyn Crawford.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The H-1B is a temporary work visa that requires at least a bachelor’s degree and allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations such as technology, engineering, healthcare and finance.

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“What we’re excited about is the opportunity to really be a differentiated specialty materials business…we are going to be a growth company.”

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• hobby 
• major 
• masterpiece 
• profession 
• speciality