Synonyms

specialize

American

[spesh-uh-lahyz] / ˈspɛʃ əˌlaɪz /

especially British, specialise

verb (used without object)

to pursue some special line of study, work, etc.; have a specialty.

The doctor specializes in gastroenterology.
Biology. (of an organism or one of its organs) to be adapted to a special function or environment.

verb (used with object)

to render special or specific; invest with a special character, function, etc.
to adapt to special conditions; restrict to specific limits.
to restrict payment of (a negotiable instrument) by endorsing over to a specific payee.
to specify; particularize.

specialize British

/ ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪz /

verb

(intr) to train in or devote oneself to a particular area of study, occupation, or activity
(usually passive) to cause (organisms or their parts) to develop in a way most suited to a particular environment or way of life or (of organisms, etc) to develop in this way
(tr) to modify or make suitable for a special use or purpose
(tr) to mention specifically; specify
(tr) to endorse (a commercial paper) to a specific payee

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of specialize

From the French word spécialiser, dating back to 1605–15; see special, -ize

Explanation

To specialize is to narrow down your focus, in your studies or profession, to a specific field. If you love playing the accordion, perhaps you should specialize in polka music. If there’s a subject you think is special, specialize in it! For example, doctors start to specialize in medical school, when they study something specific such as podiatry (feet) or cardiology (hearts). Other professionals also specialize in smaller parts of larger fields, like lawyers who specialize in corporate law, or writers who specialize in TV comedies.

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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:

specialize specializes specialized specializing

These funds specialize in using derivatives in ways that are particularly appealing to older, more risk-averse investors, ETF industry experts said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026

All three injured firefighters were working on hand crews, which specialize in fighting fires in such areas, she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

The barrage of missiles and drones hit ships that specialize in short voyages in and out of the Persian Gulf, known as “shuttle runs.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Activists that specialize in the Asia-Pacific region such as Dalton Investments, Oasis Management, and Strategic Capital were among the busiest players, Lazard’s data showed.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

“No more than most universities, I suppose. Of course, we do specialize in one or two areas, and that brings interested scholars from quite some distance. Not only scholars either.”

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman

“This is an individual-level based vaccination for somebody’s individual tumor,” said Michael Christopher, a dermatologist in Tucson, Ariz., who specializes in early detection of skin cancer.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

That’s where a CFP who specializes in tax planning can help you.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

Founded in 2016, the company specializes in developing robots that walk and run like humans.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

The title track is one of several cuts featuring guitarist Meg Duffy of Hand Habits, who specializes in subtle harmonic accents that enrich a song’s meaning.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Dr. Eloesser specializes in tuberculosis, but Joey takes every opportunity to educate him about Hansen’s disease.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

A “thick” labor market of workers with specialized skills—and firms that need them—also helps, Moretti said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

The new platform, called Harvey II, reflects the growing role of memory in AI chatbots since early 2024 and indicates that memory is moving into more specialized forms of AI.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

In eusocial colonies, reproduction is divided between queens and workers, creating highly cooperative societies with specialized roles.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026

The Sheriff’s Department dispatched a team of specialized crisis negotiators who attempted to negotiate his surrender, but the man refused to exit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

Commoners were barred, except for a few specialized technicians and craftworkers.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

This is "a fairly new phenomenon in Bolivia," a "very safe country until a few years ago," Joaquin Chacin, an investigator specializing in organized crime, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

“Prevention is always better than rehabilitation,” says Mike Teater, director of balance for Fyzical, a national network of clinics specializing in balance and dizziness.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

The road to recovery is long, and some patients "still haven't really grasped the magnitude of what happened to them," Bianca Damaso, a physician specializing in prosthetics, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

Alexis Romero, attorney specializing in economic and environmental justice, argues in Slate that these new orders push the boundaries of both U.S. and international law.

From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2026

Three days later Mr. Brown, a tiny gringo, arrived at the train station clutching a mysterious suitcase; Esteban introduced him as an agricultural technician specializing in insecticides.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

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