You use specific to refer to a particular fixed area, problem, or subject.
Massage may help to increase blood flow to specific areas of the body.
There are several specific problems to be dealt with.
Specific groups may be formed to address specific issues.
...the specific needs of the individual.
Synonyms: particular, special, characteristic, distinguishing More Synonyms of specific
2. adjective
If someone is specific, they give a description that is precise and exact. You can also use specific to describe their description.
I asked him to be more specific.
She's from the USA, Boston to be more specific.
This report offered the most specific and accurate description of the problems.
Synonyms: precise, exact, explicit, definite More Synonyms of specific
specificity (spesɪfɪsɪti)uncountable noun
...the kind of extreme specificity normally associated only with computer programmes.
3. adjective
Something that is specificto a particular thing is connected with that thing only.
Send your resume with a cover letter that is specific to that particular job. [+ to]
Synonyms: peculiar, appropriate, individual, particular More Synonyms of specific
Specific is also used after nouns.
Most studies of trade have been country-specific.
...a job-specific course.
More Synonyms of specific
specific in British English
(spɪˈsɪfɪk)
adjective
1.
explicit, particular, or definite
please be more specific
2.
relating to a specified or particular thing
a specific treatment for arthritis
3.
of or relating to a biological species
specific differences
4.
(of a disease) caused by a particular pathogenic agent
5. physics
a.
characteristic of a property of a particular substance, esp in relation to the same property of a standard reference substance
specific gravity
b.
characteristic of a property of a particular substance per unit mass, length, area, volume, etc
specific heat
c.
(of an extensive physical quantity) divided by mass
specific heat capacity
specific volume
6. Also (rare): specifical business
denoting a tariff levied at a fixed sum per unit of weight, quantity, volume, etc, irrespective of value
noun
7. (sometimes plural)
a designated quality, thing, etc
8. medicine
any drug used to treat a particular disease
Derived forms
specifically (speˈcifically)
adverb
specificity (ˌspɛsɪˈfɪsɪtɪ)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Medieval Latin specificus, from Latin species
specific in American English
(spəˈsɪfɪk)
adjective
1.
limiting or limited; specifying or specified; precise; definite; explicit
no specific plans
2.
of or constituting a species
3.
peculiar to or characteristic of something
specific traits
4.
of a special, or particular, sort or kind
5. Medicine
a.
specially indicated as a cure for a particular disease
a specific remedy
b.
produced by a particular microorganism
a specific disease
6. Physics
designating a certain constant characteristic of a substance or phenomenon measured against some arbitrary, fixed standard of reference or expressed as an amount per unit area, unit volume, etc.
: Also ; Rare speˈcifical
noun
7.
something specially suited for a given use or purpose
8.
a specific cure or remedy
9.
a distinct item or detail; particular
SIMILAR WORDS: exˈplicit, ˈspecial
Derived forms
specifically (speˈcifically)
adverb
Word origin
LL specificus < L species (see species) + -ficus, -fic
-specific in American English
(spəˈsɪfɪk)
limited or specific to, characteristic of (a specified thing or person)
species-specific
Examples of 'specific' in a sentence
specific
You used to need specific kill streaks to collect the bonus kit.
The Sun (2012)
Within the organisation there will be specific jobs and tasks to be done.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
This enables them to be used against specific targets without lingering to affect others.
Lockspeiser, Jerry & Gear, Jackie Thorsons Organic Wine Guide (1991)
You will need specific references to literature to support your view.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
What specific areas stand out as needing work?
Christianity Today (2000)
You may have a specific exercise of your own in mind as you read.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
This doctrine holds that each disease has one specific cause.
Randolph, Theron G. & Moss, Ralph W. (contributor) An Alternative Approach to Allergies (1990)
They change over time for both the total society and the specific individual or family.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
Use the texts for examples and specific support.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
They set aside time for specific tasks and do it.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They must be capable of being converted into specific targets and specific assignments.
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
This was the only reference to a specific theory.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We have to select specific areas to hold and then do the job properly.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
To make the present business effective may require one specific course of action.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING FOR RESULTS (1986)
The chosen parent will also need to give specific consent.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The aim is to make it impossible to trace specific data to individual computers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This zone has the specific purpose of bringing back the protected pink sea fan.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Use specific examples to support your view.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
It took me a while to go and they measured the specific gravity and said it was too dilute.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It asserts that teachers are having to cope with a larger range of highly specific conditions in one classroom.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Offer coaching to address specific needs.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
specific
British English: specific /spɪˈsɪfɪk/ ADJECTIVE
You use specific to emphasize that you are talking about a particular thing or subject.
Several magazines provide information on specific products.
American English: specific
Arabic: مُحَدَّد
Brazilian Portuguese: específico
Chinese: 具体的
Croatian: specifičan
Czech: konkrétní
Danish: specifik
Dutch: specifiek
European Spanish: específico
Finnish: erityinen
French: spécifique
German: spezifisch
Greek: συγκεκριμένος
Italian: specifico
Japanese: 特定の
Korean: 구체적인
Norwegian: spesifikk
Polish: określony
European Portuguese: específico
Romanian: specific
Russian: особенный
Latin American Spanish: específico
Swedish: särskild
Thai: โดยเฉพาะ
Turkish: belirli
Ukrainian: специфічний
Vietnamese: cụ thể
All related terms of 'specific'
non-specific
Non-specific medical conditions or symptoms have more than one possible cause.
specific heat
the number of calories needed to raise the temperature of one gram of a given substance 1° C
specific kind
If you talk about a particular kind of thing, you are talking about one of the types or sorts of that thing.
specific name
the second part in the name of a species, such as norvegicus in Rattus norvegicus
gender-specific
of or limited to either males or females
specific charge
the charge-to-mass ratio of an elementary particle
specific issue
An issue is an important subject that people are arguing about or discussing .
specific reason
The reason for something is a fact or situation which explains why it happens or what causes it to happen.
specific volume
the volume of matter per unit mass ; the reciprocal of the density
specific details
The details of something are its individual features or elements.
specific example
An example of something is a particular situation , object, or person which shows that what is being claimed is true .
specific gravity
the ratio of the density of a substance to that of water
specific humidity
the mass of water vapour in a sample of moist air divided by the mass of the sample
specific impulse
the ratio of the thrust produced by a rocket engine to the rate of fuel consumption : it has units of time and is the length of time that unit weight of propellant would last if used to produce one unit of thrust continuously
specific incident
An incident is something that happens , often something that is unpleasant .
specific location
A location is the place where something happens or is situated.
specific question
A question is something that you say or write in order to ask a person about something.
specific situation
You use situation to refer generally to what is happening in a particular place at a particular time, or to refer to what is happening to you.
specific surface
The specific surface is the ratio of a particle's surface area to its volume or mass .
specific viscosity
a measure of the resistance to flow of a fluid , expressed as the ratio of the absolute viscosity of the fluid to that of a reference fluid (usually water in the case of liquids)
specific allegation
An allegation is a statement saying that someone has done something wrong .
specific allegations
An allegation is a statement saying that someone has done something wrong .
specific characters
the persistent features that distinguish one species from all others
specific circumstance
The circumstances of a particular situation are the conditions which affect what happens .
specific conductance
the property of transmitting heat, electricity , or sound
specific information
Information about someone or something consists of facts about them.
specific intelligence
Intelligence is information that is gathered by the government or the army about their country's enemies and their activities.
specific objectives
Your objective is what you are trying to achieve .
specific performance
a remedy awarded by a court requiring a person to fulfil obligations under a contract where damages are an insufficient remedy
specific requirement
A requirement is a quality or qualification that you must have in order to be allowed to do something or to be suitable for something.
specific resistance
the electrical property of a material that determines the resistance of a piece of given dimensions . It is equal to RA / l , where R is the resistance, A the cross-sectional area, and l the length, and is the reciprocal of conductivity . It is measured in ohms
specific heat capacity
the heat required to raise unit mass of a substance by unit temperature interval under specified conditions, such as constant pressure : usually measured in joules per kelvin per kilogram
culture specific syndrome
a behavioral disturbance in a specific cultural setting that is identified and named by the cultural group itself
specific fuel consumption
Specific fuel consumption is the amount of fuel consumed by a vehicle for each unit of power output .
sp. ht
specific heat
sg
specific gravity
sp. gr.
specific gravity
resistivity
the electrical property of a material that determines the resistance of a piece of given dimensions . It is equal to RA / l , where R is the resistance, A the cross-sectional area, and l the length , and is the reciprocal of conductivity . It is measured in ohms
Chinese translation of 'specific'
specific
(spəˈsɪfɪk)
adj
(= fixed) 特定的 (tèdìng de)
(= exact) 具体(體)的 (jùtǐ de)
to be specific to对(對) ... 特有的 (duì ... tèyǒu de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
particular or definite
the specific needs of the individual
Synonyms
particular
What particular aspects of the job are you interested in?
special
It requires a very special brand of courage to fight dictators.
characteristic
Windmills are a characteristic feature of the landscape.
distinguishing
The bird has no distinguishing features.
signature
peculiar
We have our own peculiar way of doing things.
definite
especial
This was Jim's especial foible.
Opposites
general
,
common
2 (adjective)
Definition
precise and exact
I asked him to be more specific.
Synonyms
precise
We will never know the precise details of his death.
exact
I can't remember the exact words he used.
explicit
He left explicit instructions on how to set the alarm.
definite
It's too soon to give a definite answer.
limited
express
I was warned not to leave my post without express orders.
clear-cut
She won a clear-cut victory in yesterday's election.
unequivocal
Richardson's unequivocal commitment to fair play
unambiguous
Opposites
general
,
vague
,
unclear
,
uncertain
, approximate,
woolly
,
hazy
,
imprecise
,
non-specific
3 (adjective)
Send your résumé with a covering letter that is specific to that particular job.
Synonyms
peculiar
appropriate
individual
We develop our own individual style of writing.
particular
personal
That's my personal property!
unique
The area has its own unique language, Catalan.
restricted
idiosyncratic
a highly idiosyncratic personality
endemic
(plural noun)
Definition
particular qualities or aspects of something
Things improved when we got down to the specifics.
Synonyms
fine points
particulars
niceties
minutiae
Much of his early work is concerned with the minutiae of life.
trivialities
Additional synonyms
in the sense of characteristic
Definition
typical or representative of someone or something
Windmills are a characteristic feature of the landscape.
Synonyms
typical,
special,
individual,
specific,
representative,
distinguishing,
distinctive,
signature,
peculiar,
singular,
idiosyncratic,
symptomatic
in the sense of clear-cut
Definition
easy to distinguish or understand
She won a clear-cut victory in yesterday's election.
Synonyms
straightforward,
specific,
plain,
precise,
black-and-white,
explicit,
definite,
unequivocal,
unambiguous,
cut-and-dried (informal)
in the sense of definite
Definition
firm, clear, and precise
It's too soon to give a definite answer.
Synonyms
specific,
exact,
precise,
clear,
particular,
express,
determined,
fixed,
black-and-white,
explicit,
clear-cut,
cut-and-dried (informal),
clearly defined
Synonyms of 'specific'
specific
Explore 'specific' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of distinguishing
The bird has no distinguishing features.
Synonyms
characteristic,
marked,
distinctive,
typical,
signature,
peculiar,
differentiating,
individualistic
in the sense of especial
This was Jim's especial foible.
Synonyms
particular,
special,
private,
individual,
personal,
express,
specific,
exclusive,
unique,
peculiar,
singular
in the sense of exact
Definition
correct in every detail
I can't remember the exact words he used.
Synonyms
accurate,
very,
correct,
true,
particular,
right,
express,
specific,
careful,
precise,
identical,
authentic,
faithful,
explicit,
definite,
orderly,
literal,
unequivocal,
faultless,
on the money (informal),
unerring,
veracious
in the sense of explicit
Definition
precisely and clearly expressed, leaving nothing to implication
He left explicit instructions on how to set the alarm.
Synonyms
clear,
obvious,
specific,
direct,
certain,
express,
plain,
absolute,
exact,
precise,
straightforward,
definite,
overt,
unequivocal,
unqualified,
unambiguous,
categorical
in the sense of express
Definition
explicitly stated
I was warned not to leave my post without express orders.
Synonyms
explicit,
clear,
direct,
precise,
pointed,
certain,
plain,
accurate,
exact,
distinct,
definite,
outright,
unambiguous,
categorical
in the sense of idiosyncratic
a highly idiosyncratic personality
Synonyms
distinctive,
special,
individual,
typical,
distinguishing,
distinct,
peculiar,
individualistic
in the sense of individual
Definition
separate or distinct from others of its kind
We develop our own individual style of writing.
Synonyms
distinctive,
special,
personal,
particular,
specific,
characteristic,
distinguishing,
distinct,
signature,
peculiar,
respective,
idiosyncratic,
personalized,
own,
several
in the sense of minutiae
Definition
trifling or precise details
Much of his early work is concerned with the minutiae of life.
Synonyms
details,
particulars,
subtleties,
trifles,
trivia,
niceties,
finer points,
ins and outs
in the sense of personal
Definition
belonging to, or for the sole use of, a particular individual
That's my personal property!
Synonyms
own,
special,
private,
individual,
particular,
peculiar,
privy (archaic)
in the sense of special
Definition
designed or reserved for a specific purpose
It requires a very special brand of courage to fight dictators.