spe·cif·ic
spi-ˈsi-fik 
1
a
: constituting or falling into a specifiable category
b
: sharing or being those properties of something that allow it to be referred to a particular category
2
a
: restricted to a particular individual, situation, relation, or effect
a disease specific to horses
b
: exerting a distinctive influence (as on a body part or a disease)
specific antibodies
3
: free from ambiguity : accurate
a specific statement of faith
4
: of, relating to, or constituting a species and especially a biological species
5
a
: being any of various arbitrary physical constants and especially one relating a quantitative attribute to unit mass, volume, or area
b
: imposed at a fixed rate per unit (as of weight or count)
specific import duties
compare ad valorem
1
a
: something peculiarly adapted to a purpose or use
b
: a drug or remedy having a specific mitigating effect on a disease
used as a specific against malaria
2
a
: a characteristic quality or trait
b
: details, particulars
—usually used in plural
haggling over the legal and financial specifics of independence—
Time
Time
c
: relating or applying specifically to or intended specifically for
gender-specific
Synonyms
Examples of specific in a Sentence
Adjective
Is there anything specific you want for dinner?
There is a specific word for this kind of feeling.
a bird species that requires a specific environment
We were each given a specific topic to talk about.
The doctor gave the patient specific instructions on how to care for the wound.
Can you be more specific? What exactly did the policeman say?
He gave her a ring—or, to be more specific, he gave her an engagement ring.
She was very specific—you have to use a certain kind of tomato in the sauce.
an education plan specific to each student's interests and abilities
problems specific to this one housing project
Noun
quinine is a specific for malaria
although the speech was long on rhetoric and platitudinous generalities, it lacked specifics
Recent Examples on the WebEric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2024
Scenic advises travelers to contact the company before booking to discuss any specific accessibility concerns.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2024
Meanwhile, the nonprofits that make up the MAGA-verse are drawing up personnel lists and writing policy objectives to avoid a replay of 2017, when Trump took office without his own specific plans and trusted personnel.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 25 May 2024
Wesley points out that Gunna is very specific about how clothing sits on his body.
—Julian Randall, Essence, 24 May 2024
There are nine blue vehicles that operate on a regular schedule with specific stops, and no reservation is needed.
—Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024
Although ski accidents are common, Vermont personal injury attorney Roger Kohn of snow sport specific firm Kohn Raft said hit-and-run incidents are not.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 23 May 2024
Just like a dating application, this one connects users with potential matches using filters for specific characteristics.
—Vanessa Perdomo, Fortune Europe, 23 May 2024
As of last month, the district portal links to the state portal where parents can view what percentile their child scored in and how their child’s scores compare to the state, district and campus results while also viewing specific test questions and their child’s answer for each.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2024
Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024
The specifics are those of the Yanomami people: their struggle to maintain a way of life in sync with nature, and to withstand invading forces of greed and commerce that treat nature as a source of wealth to be plundered.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024
The cities of Los Angeles and West Hollywood don’t have additional regulations, while L.A. County’s ordinance (which applies to unincorporated areas of the county) has all kinds of specifics to keep in mind.
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024
The school, also known as FAMU, declined to comment on the specifics of the donation, citing a nondisclosure agreement.
—Anna J. Kaiser, Fortune, 15 May 2024
Michigan State Police opened an investigation involving the Riverfront Conservancy on Tuesday, a spokesman for the law enforcement agency said without providing further specifics.
—Violet Ikonomova, Detroit Free Press, 14 May 2024
Additionally, questions asking for specifics of how each book was deemed appropriate or inappropriate for certain age groups have gone unanswered, and officials have backtracked on the reasons why the review happened in the first place.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2024
But in Mexico, not so much Pressed for specifics, though, the mayor and police officials have had little to say.
—Graham Lee Brewer, The Denver Post, 11 May 2024
But pressed by The Star for specifics on some of his claims, Johnson was soft on hard facts.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2024
Adjective
The Southern Section is allowing each of its sports to develop its own criteria, so there must be transparency and education so everyone understands what specific data are being used.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2024
Scenic advises travelers to contact the company before booking to discuss any specific accessibility concerns.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2024
Meanwhile, the nonprofits that make up the MAGA-verse are drawing up personnel lists and writing policy objectives to avoid a replay of 2017, when Trump took office without his own specific plans and trusted personnel.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 25 May 2024
Wesley points out that Gunna is very specific about how clothing sits on his body.
—Julian Randall, Essence, 24 May 2024
There are nine blue vehicles that operate on a regular schedule with specific stops, and no reservation is needed.
—Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024
Although ski accidents are common, Vermont personal injury attorney Roger Kohn of snow sport specific firm Kohn Raft said hit-and-run incidents are not.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 23 May 2024
Just like a dating application, this one connects users with potential matches using filters for specific characteristics.
—Vanessa Perdomo, Fortune Europe, 23 May 2024
As of last month, the district portal links to the state portal where parents can view what percentile their child scored in and how their child’s scores compare to the state, district and campus results while also viewing specific test questions and their child’s answer for each.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2024
Noun
Oakland had always intended to sell its Coliseum share, but the budget crisis forced city officials to do so sooner, before specifics of AASEG’s project are finalized, and to use the money for its operating costs instead of another investing in public real estate.
—Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024
The specifics are those of the Yanomami people: their struggle to maintain a way of life in sync with nature, and to withstand invading forces of greed and commerce that treat nature as a source of wealth to be plundered.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024
The cities of Los Angeles and West Hollywood don’t have additional regulations, while L.A. County’s ordinance (which applies to unincorporated areas of the county) has all kinds of specifics to keep in mind.
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024
The school, also known as FAMU, declined to comment on the specifics of the donation, citing a nondisclosure agreement.
—Anna J. Kaiser, Fortune, 15 May 2024
Michigan State Police opened an investigation involving the Riverfront Conservancy on Tuesday, a spokesman for the law enforcement agency said without providing further specifics.
—Violet Ikonomova, Detroit Free Press, 14 May 2024
Additionally, questions asking for specifics of how each book was deemed appropriate or inappropriate for certain age groups have gone unanswered, and officials have backtracked on the reasons why the review happened in the first place.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2024
But in Mexico, not so much Pressed for specifics, though, the mayor and police officials have had little to say.
—Graham Lee Brewer, The Denver Post, 11 May 2024
But pressed by The Star for specifics on some of his claims, Johnson was soft on hard facts.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'specific.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near specific
Cite this Entry
“Specific.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specific. Accessed 3 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
specific
1 of 2 adjective
spe·cif·ic
spi-ˈsif-ik
1
: relating to or being an example of a certain kind of thing
a specific case
was the question specific or general?
2
a
: restricted to a particular individual, situation, effect, or reaction
a disease specific to humans
a specific enzyme
b
: having one particular effect or influence (as on a body part or a disease)
quinine is specific for malaria
3
: clearly and exactly presented or stated
gave them specific directions
4
: of, relating to, or being a species
specific
2 of 2 noun1
: something specially adapted to a purpose or use
especially
: a drug or remedy specific for a particular disease
2
plural
: things that are specific : details, particulars
get down to specifics
Medical Definition
specific
1 of 2 adjective
spe·cif·ic
spi-ˈsif-ik
1
a
: restricted by nature to a particular individual, situation, relation, or effect
a disease specific to horses
b
: exerting a distinctive influence (as on a body part or a disease)
specific antibodies
2
: of, relating to, or constituting a species and especially a biological species
specific
2 of 2 noun
: a drug or remedy having a specific mitigating effect on a disease
Legal Definition
specific
adjective
spe·cif·ic
spə-ˈsi-fik
1
: relating to a particular thing
2
: intended for or restricted to a particular end or object
3
: being of a particularly identified kind or nature
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share