SPECIFIC: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for SPECIFIC?

Need another word that means the same as “specific”? Find 35 synonyms and 30 related words for “specific” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Specific” are: particular, specified, certain, fixed, set, determined, distinct, separate, definite, single, individual, peculiar, discrete, express, precise, exact, accurate, correct, pinpoint, detailed, explicit, clear-cut, well defined, unambiguous, unequivocal, meticulous, close, strict, details, niceties, subtleties, finer points, particulars, specifics

Specific as a Noun

Definitions of "Specific" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “specific” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A medicine that has a mitigating effect on a specific disease.
• A fact about some part (as opposed to general.
• A medicine or remedy effective in treating a particular disease or part of the body.
• A precise detail.

Synonyms of "Specific" as a noun (7 Words)

details	A crew of workers selected for a particular task. After the trial he gave us the real details.
finer points	Money extracted as a penalty.
niceties	Conformity with some esthetic standard of correctness or propriety.
particular	Detailed information about someone or something. He is wrong in every particular.
particulars	A proposition that asserts something about some (but not all) members of a class. He always reasons from the particular to the general.
specifics	A fact about some part (as opposed to general. Quinine is a specific for malaria.
subtleties	A subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude. You had to admire the subtlety of the distinctions he drew.

Usage Examples of "Specific" as a noun

• He grasped at the idea as though she had offered him a specific for cancer.
• I wish I'd put more thought into the specifics.
• Quinine is a specific for malaria.

Specific as an Adjective

Definitions of "Specific" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “specific” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique.
• Clearly defined or identified.
• Stated explicitly or in detail.
• Relating to or distinguishing or constituting a taxonomic species.
• (of a duty or a tax) levied at a fixed rate per physical unit of the thing taxed, regardless of its price.
• Relating to species or a species.
• Of or denoting a number equal to the ratio of the value of some property of a given substance to the value of the same property of some other substance used as a reference, such as water, or of a vacuum, under equivalent conditions.
• Being or affecting a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition; used also of stains or dyes used in making microscope slides.
• Belonging or relating uniquely to a particular subject.
• Of or denoting a physical quantity expressed in terms of a unit mass, volume, or other measure, in order to give a value independent of the properties or scale of the particular system studied.
• (sometimes followed by `to') applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique.
• Precise and clear in making statements or issuing instructions.

Synonyms of "Specific" as an adjective (28 Words)

accurate	Of an instrument or method capable of giving accurate information. The accounting was accurate.
certain	Certain to occur destined or inevitable Benjamin Franklin. What is certain is that every effect must have a cause.
clear-cut	Clear and distinct to the senses; easily perceptible.
close	Close in relevance or relationship. We are all in close sympathy with.
correct	Correct in opinion or judgment. He was a polite man invariably correct and pleasant with Mrs Collins.
definite	Having exact and discernible physical limits or form. Organizations have boundaries in the sense that they may occupy a definite geographical area.
detailed	Developed or executed with care and in minute detail. An exquisitely detailed carving.
determined	Determined or decided upon as by an authority. Alina was determined to be heard.
discrete	Constituting a separate entity or part. Speech sounds are produced as a continuous sound signal rather than discrete units.
distinct	Clearly or sharply defined to the mind. Plants of several distinct types.
exact	(of a subject of study) permitting precise measurements as a basis for rigorously testable theories. Psychomedicine isn t an exact science yet.
explicit	Of a person stating something in an explicit manner. She made her wishes explicit.
express	Not tacit or implied. An express train.
fixed	Fixed and unmoving. A fixed piece of wood.
individual	Being or characteristic of a single thing or person. She creates her own highly individual landscapes.
meticulous	Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise. A meticulous craftsman.
particular	Separate and distinct from others of the same group or category. A man who wishes to make a particular woman fall in love with him.
peculiar	Belonging exclusively to. Stella thought the play peculiar.
pinpoint	Tiny. This weapon fired shells with pinpoint accuracy.
precise	Used to emphasize that one is referring to an exact and particular thing. Precise directions.
separate	Separated according to race sex class or religion. Melt the white and plain chocolate in separate bowls.
set	Set down according to a plan. The time set for the launching.
single	Being or characteristic of a single thing or person. The kingdom was ruled over by a single family.
specified	Clearly and explicitly stated. Meals are at specified times.
strict	Characterized by strictness severity or restraint. A strict upbringing.
unambiguous	Admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion. As a horror apartheid is absolutely unambiguous.
unequivocal	Leaving no doubt; unambiguous. Unequivocal evidence.
well defined	In good health especially after having suffered illness or injury.

Usage Examples of "Specific" as an adjective

• A specific remedy.
• Demands specific to the job.
• Information needs are often very specific to individuals.
• A specific and detailed account of the accident.
• Specific conductance.
• Needed a specific amount.
• Rules with specific application.
• Specific dielectric strength.
• A specific stain is one having a specific affinity for particular structural elements.
• When ordering goods be specific.
• Savings were made by increasing the electricity supply only until it met specific development needs.
• The differences between them can only be on the specific level.
• Quinine is highly specific for malaria.

Associations of "Specific" (30 Words)

circumstantial	(of a description) containing full details. A circumstantial report about the debate.
defined	Showing clearly the outline or profile or boundary. Each child has clearly defined duties.
detail	Provide details for. A detail on Charlemagne s tomb.
differentia	An attribute that distinguishes a species of thing from other species of the same genus.
disambiguate	Remove uncertainty of meaning from (an ambiguous sentence, phrase, or other linguistic unit. Word senses can be disambiguated by examining the context.
dispensation	A political, religious, or social system prevailing at a particular time. Regulations controlling dispensation of medications.
distinct	Recognizable; marked. The gallery is divided into five distinct spaces.
emphasis	Special and significant stress by means of position or repetition e.g. He spoke with emphasis and with complete conviction.
especial	Better or greater than usual; special. Her outburst was for my especial benefit.
exact	Inflict (revenge) on someone. An exact copy.
exactitude	The quality of being exact. He writes with exactitude and precision.
exactly	In exact terms; without vagueness. What exactly are you looking for.
exegesis	An explanation or critical interpretation (especially of the Bible. The task of biblical exegesis.
flimsy	(of a pretext or account) weak and unconvincing. A flimsy argument.
hallmark	Stamp with a hallmark. He was reprimanded for not hallmarking his work.
idiosyncratic	Relating to idiosyncrasy; peculiar or individual. She emerged as one of the great idiosyncratic talents of the nineties.
inconclusive	Not leading to a firm conclusion or result; not ending doubt or dispute. The inconclusive committee vote.
juncture	A crisis situation or point in time when a critical decision must be made. The plane crashed at the juncture of two mountains.
localized	Adapted to the requirements of a particular area. A decentralized and localized political authority.
minute	The distance covered in a minute by someone driving or walking. The hotel is situated just ten minutes from the centre of the resort.
minutia	A small or minor detail. He had memorized the many minutiae of the legal code.
nicety	Conformity with some esthetic standard of correctness or propriety. She prided herself on her nicety of pronunciation.
particular	A proposition that asserts something about some (but not all) members of a class. Universals can be simultaneously exemplified by different particulars in different places.
particularly	Used to single out a subject to which a statement is especially applicable. He was particularly fussy about spelling.
pinpoint	Locate exactly. This weapon fired shells with pinpoint accuracy.
precise	Sharply exact or accurate or delimited. A precise mind.
precisely	Indicating exactness or preciseness. He was doing precisely or exactly what she had told him to do.
specifically	For a particular purpose. Censorship or more specifically the banning of books is a threat to the freedom of speech.
trifle	A thing of little value or importance. Syllabubs trifles and other dishes.
unambiguous	Not open to more than one interpretation. Instructions should be unambiguous.