specification

American  

[spes-uh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌspɛs ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

specifications plural

1. the act of specifying.

2. Usually specifications.

   1. a detailed description or assessment of requirements, dimensions, materials, etc., as of a proposed building, machine, bridge, etc.

   2. Computers. a detailed description of the hardware installed, including the memory capacity, processor speed, and graphics card model.

3. a particular item, aspect, calculation, etc., in such a description.

4. something specified, as in a bill of particulars; a specified particular, item, or article.

   Synonyms:

   qualification, condition, requirement

5. an act of making specific.

6. the state of having a specific character.

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specification British  

/ ˌspɛsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of specifying

2. (in patent law) a written statement accompanying an application for a patent that describes the nature of an invention

3. a detailed description of the criteria for the constituents, construction, appearance, performance, etc, of a material, apparatus, etc, or of the standard of workmanship required in its manufacture

4. an item, detail, etc, specified

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonspecification
  noun
• prespecification
  noun
• respecification
  noun
• superspecification
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• specifications
  plural

Etymology

Origin of specification

First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin specificātiōn- (stem of specificātiō ), equivalent to specificāt(us) (past participle of specificāre “to mention, describe”; see specific, -ate ¹) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

We sometimes call them "specs," but a specification has no relationship to eyeglasses! Instead, it is an explicit detail of a design, presenting the exact way something specific must be constructed. For example, blueprints contain the specifications for a building. In the 17th century, the word specification emerged with the meaning of giving something a specific quality. The technical meaning, applied to building and engineering plans, developed in the late 18th century. The meaning of the word is precise, referring to specific plans, although just because it's a specification doesn't mean it is accurate. Science-fiction writer Robert Heinlein once had his character Lazarus Long make the comment, "An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

specification specifications

The rules dictate that power-unit manufacturers must supply to their customers engines of exactly the same specification as those used by the works team.

From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2026

The Black Badge specification features a dark-anodized grille and hood figurine in the place of chrome brightwork—younger, fresher, more nocturnal, but also nicely understated, which I like.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

The job specification describes the role as one of "the most important, high-profile public posts in the UK".

From Barron's ● Nov. 24, 2025

Beyond the individual car set-up - suspension settings, level of downforce and so forth - fundamentally, both cars are in the same specification.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2025

It’s a hypothetical molecular-engineering technology in which objects are designed and built with the individual specification and placement of each separate atom.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

According to its official website, the portal is a “shared space for enemy weapons research” that provides researchers, governments and defense firms with the specifications of Russian capacity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

The Energy Department will set the technical specifications for the machine, which is expected to be housed in a national laboratory by 2028.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

As for the Cybercab, recent filings with U.S. regulators have given investors a full look at the technical specifications of the two-seat vehicle.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 18, 2026

That dwarfed the offerings of Morocco, which had no existing stadiums that conformed to tournament specifications and would need to spend upwards of $15 billion to prepare for a World Cup.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026

I said not exactly but that I was getting better acquainted with it, in one form or another, all the time, and that I’d do my best to come up to her specifications.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• blueprint
• spec
• stipulation