specific

[spi-sif-ik]

adjective

1. having a special application, bearing, or reference; specifying, explicit, or definite.

   to state one's specific purpose.

2. specified, precise, or particular.

   a specific sum of money.

   Antonyms: vague

3. peculiar or proper to somebody or something, as qualities, characteristics, effects, etc..

   His specific problems got him into trouble.

4. of a special or particular kind.

5. concerned specifically with the item or subject named (used in combination).

   The Secretary addressed himself to crop-specific problems.

6. Biology.,  of or relating to a species.

   specific characters.

7. Medicine/Medical.

   1. (of a disease) produced by a special cause or infection.

   2. (of a remedy) having special effect in the prevention or cure of a certain disease.

8. Immunology.,  (of an antibody or antigen) having a particular effect on only one antibody or antigen or affecting it in only one way.

9. Commerce.,  noting customs or duties levied in fixed amounts per unit, as number, weight, or volume.

10. Physics.

    1. designating a physical constant that, for a particular substance, is expressed as the ratio of the quantity in the substance to the quantity in an equal volume of a standard substance, as water or air.

    2. designating a physical constant that expresses a property or effect as a quantity per unit length, area, volume, or mass.

noun

1. something specific, as a statement, quality, detail, etc.

2. Medicine/Medical.,  a specific remedy.

   There is no specific for the common cold.

specific

/ spɪˈsɪfɪk, ˌspɛsɪˈfɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. explicit, particular, or definite

   please be more specific

2. relating to a specified or particular thing

   a specific treatment for arthritis

3. of or relating to a biological species

   specific differences

4. (of a disease) caused by a particular pathogenic agent

5. physics

   1. characteristic of a property of a particular substance, esp in relation to the same property of a standard reference substance

      specific gravity

   2. characteristic of a property of a particular substance per unit mass, length, area, volume, etc

      specific heat

   3. (of an extensive physical quantity) divided by mass

      specific heat capacity

      specific volume

6. Also (rare): specifical. commerce denoting a tariff levied at a fixed sum per unit of weight, quantity, volume, etc, irrespective of value

noun

1. (sometimes plural) a designated quality, thing, etc

2. med any drug used to treat a particular disease

Other Word Forms

• specifically adverb
• specificity noun
• nonspecifically adverb
• prespecific adjective
• prespecifically adverb
• unspecific adjective
• unspecifically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of specific¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from Medieval Latin specificus, equivalent to Latin speci(ēs) species + -ficus -fic

Word History and Origins

Origin of specific¹

C17: from Medieval Latin specificus, from Latin _species

Synonym Study

See special.

Example Sentences

“And if the text doesn’t seem to need a specific race or ethnicity, we consider people from all races and ethnicities.”

From Los Angeles Times

Companies would have to pay the fee with any new H-1B visa petitions submitted after a specific time on Sept. 21, the White House said.

From Los Angeles Times

Rivas returned to Lake Elsinore in the last year, said Alonso, the family friend, but she could not recall specific dates.

From Los Angeles Times

It is also an important force in formulating a new model of womanhood: one that incorporates strong religious identity, a specific feminine aesthetic, and far-right ideas.

From Salon

They also confirmed that it was not a specific graveyard for children.

From BBC

Related Words

• clear-cut 
• definite 
• definitive 
• different 
• distinct 
• exact 
• explicit 
• individual 
• limited 
• peculiar 
• precise 
• special 
• specialized 
• unambiguous 
• unequivocal 
• unique