specialty

specialty — noun

1. a particular item, often a food or beverage, for which a specific area or restau

1.nounB1
Definition

a particular item, often a food or beverage, for which a specific area or restaurant is well known

Example

Kian brought back green tea from Kyoto, which is a local specialty of the region.

collocation: local specialty

The restaurant's specialty is a slow-cooked beef stew with red wine.

collocation: restaurant's specialty

Common collocations
  • local specialty
  • regional specialty
  • house specialty
  • specialty dish
  • specialty food
  • chef's specialty
  • the specialty of the house/region
Synonyms
  • delicacy

    specifically a rare or expensive food, narrower than specialty

  • signature dish

    refers specifically to food, not products

  • staple

    a basic or regularly used item, not necessarily famous

Grammar Patterns

specialty + noun (attributive)

the specialty of [place]

someone's specialty

Usage Note

In British English, the alternative spelling 'speciality' is more common for this sense.

Common Mistakes

This cake is the restaurant's special of the day.' (when meaning a signature item).
This cake is the restaurant's specialty.
'special' as a noun means a temporary promotion or discount item, not a signature dish.
I bought some speciality tea from Japan.' (in American English).
I bought some specialty tea from Japan.
'speciality' is the British English spelling preference; 'specialty' is standard in American English.

2. a particular subject, skill, or area of work that someone has studied deeply or

2.nounB1
Definition

a particular subject, skill, or area of work that someone has studied deeply or knows a great deal about — for example, a doctor's area of medicine or a mechanic's type of repair

Example

At the hospital, Dr. Okafor's specialty is helping children with hearing loss.

specialty + gerund (action-based expertise)

Asher chose computer security as his specialty at university.

choose + as + specialty

Common collocations
  • medical specialty
  • academic specialty
  • choose a specialty
  • develop a specialty
  • area of specialty
  • specialty in cardiology/law/education
Synonyms
  • expertise

    emphasizes deep practical knowledge and skill more than 'specialty' does

  • specialization

    focuses on the narrowing of focus within a broader field, often academic

  • forte

    suggests a natural talent; less formal, not used for academic fields

Grammar Patterns

someone's specialty + gerund

someone's specialty in + field

choose + as + specialty

Common Mistakes

His major is physics.' (when focusing on established expertise).
His specialty is physics.
'major' refers to a formal program of study at a university; 'specialty' covers both formal training and self-developed knowledge.
She has a special of diagnosing rare diseases.
Her specialty is diagnosing rare diseases.
'special' is an adjective; the noun form needed here is 'specialty.'

3. a quality, feature, or characteristic that makes one person or thing clearly dif

3.nounB2
Definition

a quality, feature, or characteristic that makes one person or thing clearly different from others of the same kind

Example

A light and fluffy texture is the specialty of Japanese-style cheesecake.

the specialty of [something] (distinctive quality)

Élise's specialty as an architect is creating buildings that blend with nature.

Common collocations
  • the specialty of [something]
  • become someone's specialty
Synonyms
  • hallmark

    stronger emphasis on being a typical identifying feature

  • trademark

    suggests something that has become closely associated with a person or brand

  • trait

    more neutral and broader than 'specialty'; does not imply uniqueness

Grammar Patterns

the specialty of [thing] + is + quality

someone's specialty + as + role

Usage Note

This sense is more typical of formal or descriptive writing than everyday conversation. In casual speech, words like 'trademark' or 'hallmark' are often preferred.

Common Mistakes

Calmness is her special.
Calmness is her specialty.
'special' is an adjective; the noun form meaning 'distinctive quality' is 'specialty.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Specialty, expertise, specialization, and forte all relate to areas of knowledge or skill, but they differ in emphasis. 'Specialty' is the broadest term, referring to the field a person works in or knows most about. 'Expertise' stresses the high level of skill gained through practice and study — you can have a specialty without deep expertise. 'Specialization' focuses on the narrowing of focus within a larger field, implying a formal or academic choice. 'Forte' suggests a natural strength or talent and is used in more informal settings. For example: 'Cardiology is Dr. Lee's medical specialty. She pursued that specialization during residency. After years of practice, her expertise in treating heart failure is unmatched. Her forte, however, is communicating complex diagnoses to patients in simple terms.'

specialty ↗expertise ↗specializationforte

Common collocations

Phrases

  • to be someone's specialty
  • become a specialty

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'specialis' meaning 'individual' or 'particular,' through Late Latin 'specialitas' and Old French 'especialte.' The word entered Middle English around 1300 with the meaning 'special quality or characteristic.' The sense of 'an area of study or expertise' appeared in the 1760s, and 'a product famous in a region' developed in the 19th century.