specific

specific — adjective

1. only relating to one particular person, thing, group, or situation, rather than

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

only relating to one particular person, thing, group, or situation, rather than to a general or broad range.

Example

A specific set of tools is required for the kitchen renovation.

specific + noun for particular purpose

The doctor recommended a specific treatment plan for Maeve's condition.

Common collocations
  • specific needs
  • specific requirements
  • specific purpose
  • specific area
  • specific group
  • specific type
  • specific case
  • specific to
Synonyms
  • particular

    more general than 'specific'; can mean 'especially great' as in 'particular importance', which 'specific' cannot.

  • certain

    less precise than 'specific'; often implies the speaker knows the identity but chooses not to name it.

  • given

    implies the item was already stated or assumed, rather than being singled out by its nature.

Antonyms
  • general

    broad, not limited to one thing or group.

  • overall

    considering everything together rather than one specific part.

Grammar Patterns

specific + noun

specific to + noun

Usage Note

This sense can also appear after a linking verb: 'The training is specific to hospital staff.' Do not confuse with 'special', which emphasises unusual quality rather than particular connection.

Common Mistakes

I have a special reason for choosing this university.' (when meaning 'particular, not general').
I have a specific reason for choosing this university.
'specific' means particular/defined; 'special' means unusual or out of the ordinary.
This rule is specific for married couples.
This rule is specific to married couples.
Use 'specific to', not 'specific for', when describing what a rule applies to.

2. clearly and exactly stated, so that no doubt or confusion is possible about what

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

clearly and exactly stated, so that no doubt or confusion is possible about what is meant.

Example

Can you be more specific about the time you expect to arrive?

be specific about + noun/wh-clause

The police officer asked for a specific description of the stolen bicycle.

Common collocations
  • specific details
  • specific information
  • specific instructions
  • be specific
  • specific about
  • specific answer
  • specific example
Synonyms
  • precise

    slightly stronger than 'specific'; suggests exact measurement or fine detail.

  • explicit

    implies nothing is left implied; everything is stated openly.

  • detailed

    focuses on the amount of information given, whereas 'specific' focuses on the clarity.

Antonyms
  • vague

    not clearly expressed; leaving room for doubt.

  • ambiguous

    having more than one possible meaning.

  • general

    broad rather than detailed.

Grammar Patterns

specific + noun

be + specific + about + noun/wh-clause

be + specific + in + noun

Usage Note

Frequently used in requests ('Could you be more specific?') and in contrast with 'vague'. This sense does not take 'specific to' — that pattern belongs to sense 1 above.

Common Mistakes

Please be specific to the deadline.
Please be specific about the deadline.
'specific about' (sense 2) is used for exactness; 'specific to' (sense 1) is for unique connection.

specific — noun

specific — combining form

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words can point to one item among many, but they differ in emphasis. 'Particular' is the broadest: it can mean 'specific' (a particular brand) or 'especially great' (of particular importance). 'Specific' is stronger in tying something to one defined referent — 'specific instructions' means instructions that are clearly defined, not just singled out. 'Certain' is vaguer than both; when you say 'a certain person called', you often choose not to name them, so the focus is on the speaker's withholding, not on the identity. 'Precise' adds the idea of exact measurement or fine detail — 'precise coordinates' means down to the decimal, where 'specific coordinates' could just mean 'not general'. 'Given' implies prior arrangement or assumption: 'a given time' means a time already decided or taken as a starting point. Example: 'At the given signal, each student went to a specific station and followed the particular instructions written there. Be precise about the amount of water you add.'

particular ↗certain ↗specific ↗precise ↗given ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • highly specific
  • very specific
  • quite specific
  • fairly specific
  • culturally specific
  • historically specific
  • contextually specific

Phrases

  • to be specific
  • more specifically
  • in specific terms
  • on a specific date

Prepositions

  • specific to
  • specific about
  • specific in

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Comes from Latin 'specificus', which meant 'of a particular kind or species'. This was formed from 'species' (meaning 'kind, sort, appearance') plus 'facere' (meaning 'to make or do'). The Latin word was borrowed directly into English in the 1600s, first used in scientific writing to mean 'belonging to a species'. By the 1700s it had broadened to its modern meanings: 'particular' (adjective sense 1), 'exact' (adjective sense 2), and the noun uses referring to details and medicines.