Showing results for "specialized"

• past tense form of specialize.
• past participle of specialize.

specialized

American  

[spesh-uh-lahyzd] / ˈspɛʃ əˌlaɪzd /

especially British, specialised

adjective

1. invested with a special character or restricted to a special function or field of activity.

   He campaigned for a specialized burn department to be established at the hospital.

   The humanities, once a highly specialized pursuit, have rapidly become a much broader conversation.

2. Biology. (of an organism or organ) adapted to a special function or environment.

   If the coastal sage scrub were to vanish, so would these specialized species of insects that are dependent on it.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of specialize.

Other Word Forms

• nonspecialized
  adjective
• overspecialized
  adjective
• unspecialized
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of specialized

specialize ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

Someone or something specialized has a specific purpose or function. A podiatrist is a specialized doctor. With months of specialized training, a person could learn to walk over hot coals. Good thing that there are doctors specialized in fixing feet. The word specialized comes from special. Something special is important, notable, or unique in some way. A specialized hammer is made for one, specific purpose. A specialized teacher has expertise in a particular subject. NASCAR drivers use specialized cars, and assemble-at-home furniture comes with specialized tools. The opposite of a specialized thing is a general thing, which could be used in many circumstances. Something specialized is tailored to one job.

Example Sentences

The aircraft was to arrive at El Libertador Air Base in Maracay, with the rescue personnel deploying from there with specialized equipment designed for collapsed buildings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

Rudolph explained that the exhibit’s hardware, including its bolts and nuts, are unique and extremely specialized.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026

While caring for developing queens, they maintain higher body temperatures and undergo physiological changes that appear linked to their specialized role.

From Science Daily • Jun. 23, 2026

A dynamic strategy—with the 4% rule as a reference point—is practicable without specialized software.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026

He had an international reputation as a knowledgeable and skilled veterinarian who specialized in primate husbandry.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston