Specific

/spɪˈsɪf.ɪk/ · adjective

Meaning

Explicit or definite..

Definitions by Sense

1. Explicit or definite.
2. (bioscience, taxonomy) Pertaining to a species, as a taxon or taxa at the rank of species.
3. (sometimes in combination) Special, distinctive or unique.
4. intended for, or applying to, a particular thing.
5. Serving to identify a particular thing (often a disease or condition), with little risk of mistaking something else for it.
6. Being a remedy for a particular disease on a deeper level, rather than just masking the symptoms
7. (immunology) Limited to a particular antibody or antigen.
8. (physics) Of a value divided by mass (e.g. specific orbital energy).

Example Sentences

While some participants, like Gabi and Jasmine, had access to a gym but still felt uncertain about using specific types of equipment, others who trained at home faced even greater challenges due to the absence of both a coach and proper equipment.

Holonyms: generic, familial

Meronyms: infrasubspecific, infraspecific, subspecific

Science and literature, then, are the two achievements of Homo sapiens that most convincingly justify the specific name.

A psychologist told WJLA TV that, for the most part, this isn’t a Cocomelon-specific issue. The main issue is too much screen time and children's shows with fast-paced sequences.

a highly specific test    specific and nonspecific symptoms

Quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria.

Any improvement in secondary sciatica is probably due to the analgesic action of the sodium salicylate, but in primary sciatica, in all likelihood “rheumatic,” the effect of the sodium salicylate appears to be specific rather than symptomatic.

Synonyms for specific

Antonyms for specific

Related Words

Word Forms

• more specific
• most specific
• specifick
• specifics

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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