specialize
Americanverb (used without object)
-
specializes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
specialized,
past participle, past
-
specializing
present participle
-
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)
-
specializes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
specialized,
past participle, past
-
specializing
present participle
-
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.
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
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
specializationnoun
-
overspecializeverb
-
subspecializeverb
-
prespecializeverb (used without object)
-
superspecializeverb (used without object)
-
nonspecializingadjective
-
unspecializingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
specializesimple
-
specializessimple
-
have specializedperfect
-
has specializedperfect
-
am specializingprogressive
-
are specializingprogressive
-
is specializingprogressive
-
have been specializingperfect progressive
-
has been specializingperfect progressive
Past
-
specializedsimple
-
had specializedperfect
-
was specializingprogressive
-
were specializingprogressive
-
had been specializingperfect progressive
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.
Vocabulary lists containing specialize
Drama
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
African Civilizations, Lessons 1–2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Eyes Wide Open
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Expect more than a dozen sculptural and diorama artists to contribute, along with those who specialize in mixed media for interactive and video content.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
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
On the other hand, private-credit funds specialize in high-interest loans; many hedge funds trade rapidly, generating short-term capital gains; private-equity funds produce big payouts when they sell portfolio companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Only after Norwegians have sampled a bunch of different sports do they specialize in one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
In recent times, scientists have learned that the two hemispheres specialize in certain skills.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
The firm specializes in copper cables used to connect AI servers to networking switches.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
If these two steps are not enough for you, the next step is to consult an attorney who specializes in bankruptcy law.
From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026
Adam Christing is best known as the founder of Clean Comedians, a group that includes Nate Bargatze and specializes in stand-up routines that are free of profanity and dirty jokes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
If the company upholds its decision, he should then file a complaint with his state’s insurance department and/or consult an attorney who specializes in property-insurance disputes.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
“It shows the importance of work and marriage,” said Sara S. McLanahan, a professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton who specializes in family and poverty.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
He highlighted that Microsoft’s specialized MAI-Code-1-Flash delivers comparable performance to GPT-5.6 for common Excel tasks at a cheaper price point.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
Cook’s personality was on full display when Dailey set up a technical demo for a senior government official involving the Vcommunicator, a late-2000s-era iPod Touch with specialized real-time translation software.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026
The molecules are small and water-soluble, and they respond to common visible or white light, including normal indoor illumination and daylight, without the need for unusually intense or specialized light sources.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026
Deep Cogito said its post-training engine powers its Cogito family of frontier open-weight models as well as specialized models trained on an enterprise’s proprietary data and outcomes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Wristwatches had become fashionable and I enrolled in a school that specialized in this kind of work.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
“No one can tell you with a straight face where interest rates are going,” Jim Lebenthal, who was a market strategist specializing in municipal bonds, wrote in 2009 in his now-classic “Lebenthal on Munis.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
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
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
Most linguists specializing in Native American languages do not discern large, clear-cut groupings other than Eskimo-Aleut and Na-Dene.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
