Definitions for Specific
spɪˈsɪf ɪkSpe·cif·ic

Princeton's WordNet(4.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. particular, specific(noun)

   a fact about some part (as opposed to general)

   "he always reasons from the particular to the general"

2. specific(adj)

   a medicine that has a mitigating effect on a specific disease

   "quinine is a specific for malaria"

3. specific(adj)

   (sometimes followed by `to') applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique

   "rules with specific application"; "demands specific to the job"; "a specific and detailed account of the accident"

4. specific(adj)

   stated explicitly or in detail

   "needed a specific amount"

5. specific(adj)

   relating to or distinguishing or constituting a taxonomic species

   "specific characters"

6. specific(adj)

   being or affecting a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition; used also of stains or dyes used in making microscope slides

   "quinine is highly specific for malaria"; "a specific remedy"; "a specific stain is one having a specific affinity for particular structural elements"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. specific(Noun)

   A distinguishing attribute or quality.

2. specific(Noun)

   Something particularly adapted for a particular use, as a remedy for a particular disorder

3. specific(Noun)

   Specification

4. specific(Noun)

   The details; particulars.

5. specific(Adjective)

   explicit or definite

6. specific(Adjective)

   of, or relating to a species

7. specific(Adjective)

   pertaining to a taxon at the rank of species

8. specific(Adjective)

   special, distinctive or unique

9. specific(Adjective)

   intended for, or applying to a particular thing

10. specific(Adjective)

    being a remedy for a particular disease

11. specific(Adjective)

    limited to a particular antibody or antigen

12. specific(Adjective)

    of a value divided by mass (e.g. specific orbital energy)

13. specific(Adjective)

    similarly referring to a value divided by any measure which acts to standardize it (e.g. thrust specific fuel consumption, referring to fuel consumption divided by thrust)

14. specific(Adjective)

    a measure compared with a standard reference value by division, to produce a ratio without unit or dimension (e.g. specific refractive index is a pure number, and is relative to that of air)

Origin: From specifique, from specificus, from species + facio.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Specific(adj)

   of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug; the specific distinction between virtue and vice

2. Specific(adj)

   specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement

3. Specific(adj)

   exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaption, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria

4. Specific(noun)

   a specific remedy. See Specific, a., 3

5. Specific(adj)

   anything having peculiar adaption to the purpose to which it is applied

Origin: [F. spcifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. specify.]

Editors Contribution(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. specific

   Accurate and crystal clear detail or word.

   They had to have the specific budget for the invitation to tender.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 1, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Specific' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #871

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Specific' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1249

3. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Specific' in Adjectives Frequency: #100

How to pronounce Specific?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say Specific in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Specific in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Specific in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of Specific in a Sentence

1. Peyton Reed:

   Evangeline was very specific.

2. Rick Perry:

   I don't want to give you a date specific.

3. Raouf Mazou:

   They need specific support inside Somalia.

4. Jiyoung Ahn:

   We did not find a specific threshold level.

5. Victor Cha:

   We issued no specific invitations to anyone.

Images & Illustrations of Specific

Popularity rank by frequency of use