specific

[ spi-sif-ik ]

/ spɪˈsɪf ɪk /

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See synonyms for: specific / specifics / specifically on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having a special application, bearing, or reference; specifying, explicit, or definite: to state one's specific purpose.

specified, precise, or particular: a specific sum of money.

peculiar or proper to somebody or something, as qualities, characteristics, effects, etc.: His specific problems got him into trouble.

of a special or particular kind.

concerned specifically with the item or subject named (used in combination): The Secretary addressed himself to crop-specific problems.

Biology. of or relating to a species: specific characters.

Medicine/Medical.

(of a disease) produced by a special cause or infection.
(of a remedy) having special effect in the prevention or cure of a certain disease.

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

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

Physics.

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

noun

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

Medicine/Medical. a specific remedy: There is no specific for the common cold.

OPPOSITES FOR specific

2 vague.

See antonyms for specific on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of specific

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

synonym study for specific

1. See special.

OTHER WORDS FROM specific

spe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·spe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverbpre·spe·cif·ic, adjectivepre·spe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverb

un·spe·cif·ic, adjectiveun·spe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby specific

species, speciesism, species-specific, specif., specifiable, specific, specifically, specification, specific charge, specific epithet, specific gravity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use specific in a sentence

They are specific to whatever product or service you’re selling.
A comprehensive guide on using Google Trends for keyword research|Aayush Gupta|February 12, 2021|Search Engine Watch
Previously, there was no specific requirement of what type of mask should be worn.
NHL adds game-day rapid testing to coronavirus protocols|Samantha Pell|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
He now associates different areas with specific types of trash.
The ‘garbage guy’ walks 12 miles a day around D.C. picking up trash: ‘I’ll pick up pretty much anything.’|Sydney Page|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
The specifics of this call were unique, but the theme was a common refrain.
The loneliness of an interrupted adolescence|Ellen McCarthy|February 11, 2021|Washington Post

Oh, Naaaaaaancy is a very specific scene from a horror movie.
Capitol rioters searched for Nancy Pelosi in a way that should make every woman’s skin crawl|Monica Hesse|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
One specific kind of emergency is at the heart of this, such as when an airplane suffers a loss of stability at night.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
So too with a vaccine that provokes a specific immune response aimed at a specific RNA sequence.
When You Get the Flu This Winter, You Can Blame Anti-Vaxxers|Kent Sepkowitz|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Mistletoes infections can kill individual trees and stands of trees, and most mistletoe species attack specific tree species.
Mistletoe is the Vampire of Plants|Helen Thompson|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Protocols have specific meanings behind them, rather than do what I say because I say so,” she added.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Very few agencies offer police any specific guidance or training on how to question people with ID,” said Garrett.
How the U.S. Justice System Screws Prisoners with Disabilities|Elizabeth Picciuto|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The specific gravity is most conveniently estimated by means of the urinometer—Squibb's is preferable (Fig. 14).
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
One frequently wishes to ascertain the specific gravity of quantities of fluid too small to float an urinometer.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The specific gravity method is very useful when special instruments are not at hand.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The Specific Gravity is the relative weight of a body compared to an equal bulk of some other body taken as a standard.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
A special agent is authorized to do a specific thing, to sell a home, buy a horse, or effect some particular end or purpose.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for specific

specific

/ (spɪˈsɪfɪk) /

adjective

explicit, particular, or definiteplease be more specific

relating to a specified or particular thinga specific treatment for arthritis

of or relating to a biological speciesspecific differences

(of a disease) caused by a particular pathogenic agent

physics

characteristic of a property of a particular substance, esp in relation to the same property of a standard reference substancespecific gravity
characteristic of a property of a particular substance per unit mass, length, area, volume, etcspecific heat
(of an extensive physical quantity) divided by massspecific heat capacity; specific volume

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

noun

(sometimes plural) a designated quality, thing, etc

med any drug used to treat a particular disease

Derived forms of specific

specifically, adverbspecificity (ˌspɛsɪˈfɪsɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for specific

C17: from Medieval Latin specificus, from Latin species

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

specific

OPPOSITES FOR specific

Origin of specific

synonym study for specific

OTHER WORDS FROM specific

Words nearby specific

Words related to specific

How to use specific in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for specific

Derived forms of specific

Word Origin for specific