specialized

American  

[spesh-uh-lahyzd] / ˈspɛʃ əˌlaɪzd /

especially British, specialised

adjective

1. invested with a special character or restricted to a special function or field of activity.

   He campaigned for a specialized burn department to be established at the hospital.

   The humanities, once a highly specialized pursuit, have rapidly become a much broader conversation.

2. Biology. (of an organism or organ) adapted to a special function or environment.

   If the coastal sage scrub were to vanish, so would these specialized species of insects that are dependent on it.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of specialize.

Other Word Forms

• nonspecialized adjective
• overspecialized adjective
• unspecialized adjective

Etymology

Origin of specialized

specialize ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Over time, gene duplications occurred during cannabis evolution, allowing these enzymes to gradually become more specialized and efficient at producing individual compounds.

From Science Daily

Their solution uses a specialized organic layer that increases how often electrical charges combine to form excitons, leading to stronger light output.

From Science Daily

If an AI tool such as Cowork can autonomously handle a wide range of complicated workflows, investors fear it could reduce the need for specialized solutions and reduce subscription revenues for incumbents.

From MarketWatch

Yet some of those trails, most notably the Devil’s Backbone, can become deceptively difficult in the wintertime, transforming from moderate hikes into dangerous mountaineering routes that require specialized equipment and training.

From Los Angeles Times

The study offers new insight into how cyanobacteria in extreme environments have evolved specialized metabolic pathways to produce effective natural UV-protective compounds.

From Science Daily