specific
/spəˈsɪfɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /spəˈsɪfɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /spi-ˈsi-fik/ (ame, mw)
specific — adjective
- specificpositive
- more specificcomparative
- most specificsuperlative
1. only relating to one particular person, thing, group, or situation, rather than
only relating to one particular person, thing, group, or situation, rather than to a general or broad range.
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.
This type of allergy is specific to people who work with certain chemicals.
Each age group has specific nutritional needs that the school menu must meet.
Yael downloaded a specific app designed for learning Mandarin characters.
- 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.
文法句型
specific + noun
specific to + noun
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
2. clearly and exactly stated, so that no doubt or confusion is possible about what
clearly and exactly stated, so that no doubt or confusion is possible about what is meant.
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.
Jack gave very specific instructions on how to operate the machine safely.
The wedding invitation states the specific date and location of the ceremony.
Chidi was not specific enough about his reasons for leaving the project.
文法句型
specific + noun
be + specific + about + noun/wh-clause
be + specific + in + noun
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
specific — noun
1. an object or tool that is specially designed or suited for a particular use, rat
an object or tool that is specially designed or suited for a particular use, rather than being a general-purpose item.
In the laboratory, the technician reached for a specific designed for measuring tiny liquid samples.
a specific = standalone noun for purpose-built tool
The workshop catalogue lists each specific along with the task it was built to perform.
A specific for cutting angled picture-frame corners requires a steady hand and a very sharp blade.
The machinist ordered a specific for drilling microscopic holes in copper circuit boards.
文法句型
a + specific + for + noun/verb-ing
a + specific + designed for + noun/verb-ing
用法筆記
[USAGE] In very formal or technical English, 'specific' can be used as a countable noun meaning a specialized tool or device. This usage is rare in modern everyday speech; learners are more likely to encounter 'a tool designed for...' or 'a purpose-built device'.
2. a drug, medicine, or treatment that is effective against a particular disease or
a drug, medicine, or treatment that is effective against a particular disease or medical condition, rather than working on a wide range of illnesses.
Penicillin was the first widely available specific for treating bacterial infections in modern medicine.
a specific = standalone noun for one-disease drug
Traditional healers used certain plant extracts as specifics against common tropical diseases.
specifics (plural) as countable noun
The research team is testing a new specific against drug-resistant infections in clinical trials.
Before modern antibiotics, doctors had few specifics for treating pneumonia effectively.
文法句型
a + specific + for + noun/verb-ing
specifics (plural) + for/against + disease
用法筆記
Technical term used mainly in medical or pharmacological writing. In everyday English, people are more likely to say 'a drug for...' or 'a treatment for...'.
3. a particular quality, feature, or characteristic that belongs to one person or t
a particular quality, feature, or characteristic that belongs to one person or thing and helps to set it apart from others.
The specific of this painting — its unusual use of light and shadow — is what art critics admire most.
the specific of + noun = distinguishing quality
Each region has a specific that gives its cuisine a character found nowhere else in the country.
The specific of Hyun's voice makes it easy to recognise on the phone, even in a noisy room.
The specific that makes Felix's cooking so memorable is his use of fresh herbs from the garden.
- quality
more general; 'quality' can be positive or neutral, while 'specific' emphasises distinctiveness.
- characteristic
very close in meaning; 'characteristic' is more commonly used for distinguishing features.
文法句型
the + specific + of + noun
a + specific + that + clause
用法筆記
Quite formal and much less common than the adjective senses. The noun pattern 'the specific of...' appears mainly in literary or analytical writing. Learners at C1 level are more likely to encounter 'specific' as an adjective or 'specifics' (details) as a plural noun.
4. the precise details or exact pieces of information about something, as opposed t
the precise details or exact pieces of information about something, as opposed to the general or broad picture.
We agreed on the general plan and will discuss the specifics at the next meeting.
specifics (plural) = particular details
The lawyer asked for the specifics of the agreement before signing anything.
I understand the general idea, but I need the specifics before I can decide.
Can you give us the specifics of the travel arrangements for next week?
- details
more common than 'specifics'; 'details' is neutral while 'specifics' emphasises exactness.
- particulars
slightly more formal than 'specifics'; often used in legal or official contexts.
- generalities
vague or broad statements, the opposite of precise details.
文法句型
the + specifics + of + noun
specifics + about + noun/wh-clause
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form 'specifics'. The singular 'specific' in this sense is extremely rare. Often contrasted with 'generals' or 'the big picture'.
常見錯誤
specific — combining form
1. used as a suffix attached to a noun or adjective with a hyphen to mean 'relating
used as a suffix attached to a noun or adjective with a hyphen to mean 'relating only to that particular thing' or 'designed for that particular purpose'.
The hospital has a gender-specific ward for women who need extra privacy.
hyphenated combining form: gender-specific
This software includes a task-specific function designed only for data analysis.
The symptoms are disease-specific and do not appear in generally healthy patients.
The museum created age-specific activity sheets for children visiting the exhibition.
文法句型
noun/adj + -specific
用法筆記
Very productive in academic, technical, and professional writing. Common compound forms include: 'species-specific', 'context-specific', 'domain-specific', 'culture-specific', 'age-specific', 'gender-specific'. Always hyphenated when used as a combining form.