specific

[spi-sif-ik]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR specific 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.

Origin of specific

1625–35; < Medieval Latin specificus, equivalent to Latin speci(ēs) species + -ficus -fic

Related formsspe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·spe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverbpre·spe·cif·ic, adjectivepre·spe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverbun·spe·cif·ic, adjectiveun·spe·cif·i·cal·ly, adverb

Synonym study

1. See special.

Antonyms for specific

2. vague.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for unspecific

undetermined, infinite, unlimited, undefined, ambiguous, unclear, fuzzy, tricky, volatile, fleeting, puzzling, illusory, slippery, subtle, incomprehensible, loose, broad, confused, doubtful, dubious

Examples from the Web for unspecific

Contemporary Examples of unspecific

Dawn is upbeat yet unspecific, avoiding the potential irony Churchill warned of when an overconfidently named mission goes poorly.
Why Is the Libya War Called Operation Odyssey Dawn?
Josh Dzieza
March 22, 2011
She did offer up a few studiously unspecific opinions and policy proposals.
Fox's New Leading Lady
Rebecca Dana
January 12, 2010

British Dictionary definitions for unspecific

unspecific

adjective

not explicit, particular, or definite

specific

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 Formsspecifically, 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

Word Origin and History for unspecific

specific

adj.

1630s, "having a special quality," from French spécifique, from Late Latin specificus "constituting a species," from Latin species "kind, sort" (see species). Earlier form was specifical (early 15c.). Meaning "definite, precise" first recorded 1740.

unspecific in Medicine