specific

Everyday

1. Specific means exact, particular and clear, about one certain thing and not things in general: a specific time, a specific example. tree →
2. Specific to something means belonging only to that thing or place: plants specific to the rainforest. tree →

In the lessons

In school, teachers ask pupils to be specific in writing and answers — name the exact thing, number or reason instead of a vague one («the dog» not «it»; «at 3 o'clock» not «later»). In science, «specific» describes a precise feature of one kind of thing. In everyday safety, when calling for help, give specific information: the exact address and what happened. Phrases: be specific, a specific example, specific to, nothing specific.

Examples

• Can you give me a specific example? tree →
• Please be specific — which book do you mean? tree →
• We meet at a specific time, 9 o'clock sharp. tree →
• Kangaroos are specific to Australia and New Guinea. tree →
• When you call 911, say the specific address. tree →
• I'm not looking for anything specific, just browsing. tree →
• The recipe asks for a specific kind of flour. tree →
• The specific actions of the two waters are described with great precision in this story. tree →

Note

Adjective. Adverb: specifically. Opposite: general or vague. Spelling: spe-ci-fic. In maths, «specific» numbers make an answer clearer: «about 50» is less specific than «48».

In Jewish tradition

In school, teachers ask pupils to be specific in writing and answers — name the exact thing, number or reason instead of a vague one («the dog» not «it»; «at 3 o'clock» not «later»). In science, «specific» describes a precise feature of one kind of thing. In everyday safety, when calling for help, give specific information: the exact address and what happened. Phrases: be specific, a specific example, specific to, nothing specific.

Examples

• Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of any specific book is allowed. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →

Note

Adjective. Adverb: specifically. Opposite: general or vague. Spelling: spe-ci-fic. In maths, «specific» numbers make an answer clearer: «about 50» is less specific than «48».