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specialism

American  
[spesh-uh-liz-uhm] / ˈspɛʃ əˌlɪz əm /

noun

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


specialism British  
/ ˈspɛʃəˌlɪzəm /

noun

  1. 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.

See Examples For:

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

In 1987, he became a barrister and developed a specialism in human rights law.

From BBC Jun. 3, 2024

He has filled the past few maths teacher vacancies with primary school-trained teachers rather than those with a maths degree or maths teaching specialism.

From BBC Mar. 19, 2024

Obstetrics and gynaecology, she says, is a particularly demanding specialism that requires researchers to keep up their clinical skills on a regular basis.

From BBC Dec. 2, 2023

“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

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