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• spec
  spec

  noun

  Usually specs specification.
• spec.
  spec.

  abbreviation

  special.

spec

¹ American  

[spek] / spɛk /

noun

specs plural

1. Usually specs specification.

2. speculation.

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adjective

1. built, done, bought, etc., as a speculation.

   the construction of spec houses.

verb (used with object)

spec'd, specked, specced, spec'ing, specking, speccing

1. to provide specifications for.

   The custom turbocharger was spec'd by our mechanic.

2. (in a video game) to create or update (a character) by assigning attributes, skills, weapons, armor, and other items that affect the character’s powers, speed, strength, intelligence, etc..

   Do your research before you spec your character, because some builds are just not viable and this game does not allow you to re-spec.

idioms

1. on spec, made, built, or done with hopes of but no assurance of payment or a sale; without commitment by a client or buyer.

   ad illustrations done on spec;

   luxury homes built on spec and sold before completion.

spec. ² American  

abbreviation

1. special.

2. specially.

3. specifically.

4. specification.

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spec. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. specification

2. speculation

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spec ² British  

/ spɛk /

noun

1. as a speculation or gamble

   all the tickets were sold so I went to the theatre on spec

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adjective

1. (prenominal) speculative

   a spec developer

spec More Idioms  

1. see on spec.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• specker
  noun
• spec’er
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• specs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of spec

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95; by shortening

Example Sentences

“I’ve been buying over the past two, three years anyway and making some investments and putting out some new spec homes, but I think we’re going to start getting a little bit more aggressive now.”

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

“First quarter gross margins reflect the impact of higher incentives as the company responded to competitive market dynamics and successfully worked to reduce excess spec inventory,” PulteGroup said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Meritage, an Arizona-based builder with a roughly $4.8 billion market cap, stands out by building entirely speculative, or spec, homes, which are constructed before a buyer signs a contract.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

A complication was that McLaren were not running the latest specification of Mercedes power-unit, so can expect an uplift when they switch in Australia to the latest spec.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

But NASA's got a lot of nervous Nellies who don't want me out longer than spec.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Related Words

• asset
• contribution
• expenditure
• expense
• finance
• financing
• grant
• loan
• money
• property
• purchase
• stake
• transaction
• venture