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specialism

American

[spesh-uh-liz-uhm] / ˈspɛʃ əˌlɪz əm /

noun

devotion or restriction to a particular pursuit, branch of study, etc.

specialism British

/ ˈspɛʃəˌlɪzəm /

noun

the act or process of specializing in something, or the thing itself

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of specialism

First recorded in 1855–60; special + -ism

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There has not been a coach with a fielding specialism working with the England team since Paul Collingwood departed from the set-up at the beginning of the home summer.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2026

The couple got four dogs and started raising livestock, while Sergei, 55, also found work as a land surveyor – his specialism during his time in the Soviet army.

From BBC • May 25, 2025

With a Masters degree and a specialism in aerodynamics, his career started with the Mercedes Formula 1 team.

From BBC • Jul. 20, 2024

There he took up a second career as a detective, with a specialism in forensics.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2024

“I’m afraid I’m not good on dragons. I know the red-winged, the silver, the yellow, the starlit, the bearded, and the orchard dragon. But the sea is my specialism, not the sky.”

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023