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. )

Example Sentences

Firms that cater to higher-income customers, or sell specialized products such as quality yarn, may be more insulated from worries about broader demand, given wealthier households’ resilience in recent years.

From Barron's

Preparing for the test is sufficiently daunting that it has spawned a cottage industry of specialized agencies that help AI companies pass, much like preparing for an SAT exam, people familiar with the matter said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Iran is an actor in global cyberwarfare, and the country has been investing in improving its technological capabilities and quality of its personnel with specialized training, Ben Am said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Behind the hunt for tankers is a specialized group known as the Threat Finance Unit that falls under the National Security Section of the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

Texas has sought to attract corporations with legislation that establishes specialized business courts and prevents judges from second-guessing board judgments.

From The Wall Street Journal