specific
Americanadjective
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having a special application, bearing, or reference; specifying, explicit, or definite.
to state one's specific purpose.
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specified, precise, or particular.
a specific sum of money.
- Antonyms:
- vague
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peculiar or proper to somebody or something, as qualities, characteristics, effects, etc..
His specific problems got him into trouble.
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of a special or particular kind.
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concerned specifically with the item or subject named (used in combination).
The Secretary addressed himself to crop-specific problems.
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Biology. of or relating to a species.
specific characters.
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Medicine/Medical.
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(of a disease) produced by a special cause or infection.
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(of a remedy) having special effect in the prevention or cure of a certain disease.
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Immunology. (of an antibody or antigen) having a particular effect on only one antibody or antigen or affecting it in only one way.
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Commerce. noting customs or duties levied in fixed amounts per unit, as number, weight, or volume.
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Physics.
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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.
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designating a physical constant that expresses a property or effect as a quantity per unit length, area, volume, or mass.
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noun
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something specific, as a statement, quality, detail, etc.
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Medicine/Medical. a specific remedy.
There is no specific for the common cold.
adjective
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explicit, particular, or definite
please be more specific
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relating to a specified or particular thing
a specific treatment for arthritis
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of or relating to a biological species
specific differences
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(of a disease) caused by a particular pathogenic agent
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physics
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characteristic of a property of a particular substance, esp in relation to the same property of a standard reference substance
specific gravity
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characteristic of a property of a particular substance per unit mass, length, area, volume, etc
specific heat
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(of an extensive physical quantity) divided by mass
specific heat capacity
specific volume
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Also (rare): specifical. commerce denoting a tariff levied at a fixed sum per unit of weight, quantity, volume, etc, irrespective of value
noun
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(sometimes plural) a designated quality, thing, etc
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med any drug used to treat a particular disease
Related Words
See special.
Other Word Forms
- nonspecifically adverb
- prespecific adjective
- prespecifically adverb
- specifically adverb
- specificity noun
- unspecific adjective
- unspecifically adverb
Etymology
Origin of specific
First recorded in 1625–35; from Medieval Latin specificus, equivalent to Latin speci(ēs) species + -ficus -fic
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.
It works especially well when there’s a specific deadline like Tuesday night’s Strait of Hormuz ultimatum since there’s less danger of being right but getting the timing wrong.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
But playing the part was another matter, having sold everyone involved in the production on a very specific tone and conception of what they would do together.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026
Raising bag fees is a way to pass on rising fuel costs to customers without paying a specific federal tax, said Michael Taylor, a senior managing director with JD Power who tracks the travel industry.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
There may be "exquisite unique hypersonic capabilities or other bespoke systems that could be used against specific targets," he said.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
He could then take that information and tell you what was likely to happen to specific mortgage bonds.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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.
