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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.

He waited a year for the appointment only to be told it was the wrong specialism.

From BBC • Jul. 29, 2025

The longest outpatient waiting list is for general surgery, however, every treatment specialism list has grown, with the exception of ophthalmology.

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2024

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

From BBC • Jul. 20, 2024

"The variety of work is encouraging me to stay at the minute also I am working in dermatology and learning about that specialism - I'm learning all the time," the 31-year-old said.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 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