specialize

American  

[spesh-uh-lahyz] / ˈspɛʃ əˌlaɪz /

especially British, specialise

verb (used without object)

• specializes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• specialized,
  past participle,  past
• specializing
  present participle

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

   The doctor specializes in gastroenterology.

2. Biology. (of an organism or one of its organs) to be adapted to a special function or environment.

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verb (used with object)

• specializes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• specialized,
  past participle,  past
• specializing
  present participle

1. to render special or specific; invest with a special character, function, etc.

2. to adapt to special conditions; restrict to specific limits.

3. to restrict payment of (a negotiable instrument) by endorsing over to a specific payee.

4. to specify; particularize.

specialize British  

/ ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (intr) to train in or devote oneself to a particular area of study, occupation, or activity

2. (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

3. (tr) to modify or make suitable for a special use or purpose

4. (tr) to mention specifically; specify

5. (tr) to endorse (a commercial paper) to a specific payee

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• specialization
  noun
• overspecialize
  verb
• subspecialize
  verb
• prespecialize
  verb (used without object)
• superspecialize
  verb (used without object)
• nonspecializing
  adjective
• unspecializing
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• specializing
  present
• specialized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• specialize
  simple
• specializes
  simple
• have specialized
  perfect
• has specialized
  perfect
• am specializing
  progressive
• are specializing
  progressive
• is specializing
  progressive
• have been specializing
  perfect progressive
• has been specializing
  perfect progressive

Past

• specialized
  simple
• had specialized
  perfect
• was specializing
  progressive
• were specializing
  progressive
• had been specializing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will specialize
  simple
• will have specialized
  perfect
• will be specializing
  progressive
• will have been specializing
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

specialize specializes specialized specializing

“Hopefully it will retain the ability to be that brand, and specialize in some more iconic pieces,” Maguire said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 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

The two hemispheres specialize in different mental skills, but brain functions are not as neatly divided as they appear.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

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

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

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

LCN, which manages roughly $3 billion in assets, is a commercial real-estate investor that specializes in sale-leaseback transactions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Anderson specializes in studying areas where enormous deposits of clay may have helped preserve ancient eukaryotic remains.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

“For instance, while I do think Chuck Norris specializes in the roundhouse kick, I don’t think it’s accurate to say, ‘Chuck Norris’s tears can cure cancer, but unfortunately he has never cried.’

From "Paper Towns" by John Green

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

Nvidia pairs specialized chips for physical AI with software tools used by developers of robots and robotaxis so that customers grow committed to an Nvidia suite of products.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

I would love to know if your company is open to the idea of building specialized open-weight models that it owns and controls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

Each attempt consumes expensive material, requires specialized equipment, and takes considerable human effort.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

Béroud specialized in lovingly detailed depictions of the Louvre.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

The US government has been pouring money into the development of companies specializing in separation, refining and magnet production.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

“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

Mike Teater is the director of balance education 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

He trained in aviation metal- smithing, specializing in the repair of propellers.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Related Words

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