specific

[spi-sif-ik]

adjective

1. having a special application, bearing, or reference; specifying, explicit, or definite.

   to state one's specific purpose.

2. specified, precise, or particular.

   a specific sum of money.

   Antonyms: vague

3. peculiar or proper to somebody or something, as qualities, characteristics, effects, etc..

   His specific problems got him into trouble.

4. of a special or particular kind.

5. concerned specifically with the item or subject named (used in combination).

   The Secretary addressed himself to crop-specific problems.

6. Biology.,  of or relating to a species.

   specific characters.

7. Medicine/Medical.

   1. (of a disease) produced by a special cause or infection.

   2. (of a remedy) having special effect in the prevention or cure of a certain disease.

8. Immunology.,  (of an antibody or antigen) having a particular effect on only one antibody or antigen or affecting it in only one way.

9. Commerce.,  noting customs or duties levied in fixed amounts per unit, as number, weight, or volume.

10. Physics.

    1. designating a physical constant that, for a particular substance, is expressed as the ratio of the quantity in the substance to the quantity in an equal volume of a standard substance, as water or air.

    2. designating a physical constant that expresses a property or effect as a quantity per unit length, area, volume, or mass.

noun

1. something specific, as a statement, quality, detail, etc.

2. Medicine/Medical.,  a specific remedy.

   There is no specific for the common cold.

specific

/ spɪˈsɪfɪk, ˌspɛsɪˈfɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. explicit, particular, or definite

   please be more specific

2. relating to a specified or particular thing

   a specific treatment for arthritis

3. of or relating to a biological species

   specific differences

4. (of a disease) caused by a particular pathogenic agent

5. physics

   1. characteristic of a property of a particular substance, esp in relation to the same property of a standard reference substance

      specific gravity

   2. characteristic of a property of a particular substance per unit mass, length, area, volume, etc

      specific heat

   3. (of an extensive physical quantity) divided by mass

      specific heat capacity

      specific volume

6. Also (rare): specifical. commerce denoting a tariff levied at a fixed sum per unit of weight, quantity, volume, etc, irrespective of value

noun

1. (sometimes plural) a designated quality, thing, etc

2. med any drug used to treat a particular disease

Other Word Forms

• specifically adverb
• nonspecifically adverb
• prespecific adjective
• prespecifically adverb
• unspecific adjective
• unspecifically adverb
• specificity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of specific¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from Medieval Latin specificus, equivalent to Latin speci(ēs) species + -ficus -fic

Word History and Origins

Origin of specific¹

C17: from Medieval Latin specificus, from Latin _species

Synonym Study

See special.

Example Sentences

“It’s very specific to needs, not wants. Food and healthcare is a need, not a want, and we’ve seen high inflation in those areas.”

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In its review, the Journal mirrored the industry’s practice of relying on crew reports of specific odors and associated maintenance reports.

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But the type of meat that would have caused the test failure, from a specific type of uncastrated boar, is rare in the U.S. food supply.

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Players rarely talk so openly about needing to alter their styles to beat a specific rival.

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Quadros’s research has found that a specific autoantibody blocks the transport of folate from mother to fetus during pregnancy and when present after birth, the infant’s brain.

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Related Words

• clear-cut 
• definite 
• definitive 
• different 
• distinct 
• exact 
• explicit 
• individual 
• limited 
• peculiar 
• precise 
• special 
• specialized 
• unambiguous 
• unequivocal 
• unique