specifically

UK: /spɪˈsɪfɪkəli/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

spe•cif•ic /spɪˈsɪfɪk/   adj. 

1. having a special purpose or reference; explicit or definite:
   a specific use for a tool.
2. specified, precise, or particular;
   exact:
   What is the specific time the train will arrive?
3. proper to only certain persons or things:
   [be + ~ + to + object] This symptom is specific to those who have high blood pressure.

n. [countable]

4. something specific, as a statement or detail:
   Those are the general principles; now let's look at the specifics and how they apply to each of us.

spe•cif•i•cal•ly, adv. 
spec•i•fic•i•ty /ˌspɛsəˈfɪsɪti/  n. [uncountable] See -spec-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

spe•cif•ic  (spi sif′ik), adj. 

1. having a special application, bearing, or reference;
   specifying, explicit, or definite:
   to state one's specific purpose.
2. specified, precise, or particular:
   a specific sum of money.
3. peculiar or proper to somebody or something, as qualities, characteristics, effects, etc.:
   His specific problems got him into trouble.
4. of a special or particular kind.
5. concerned specifically with the item or subject named (used in combination):
   The Secretary addressed himself to crop-specific problems.
6. Biology of or pertaining to a species:
   specific characters.
7. Medicine
   • (of a disease) produced by a special cause or infection.
   • (of a remedy) having special effect in the prevention or cure of a certain disease.
8. Immunology (of an antibody or antigen) having a particular effect on only one antibody or antigen or affecting it in only one way.
9. Business [Com.] noting customs or duties levied in fixed amounts per unit, as number, weight, or volume.
10. Physics
    • Physics designating a physical constant that, for a particular substance, is expressed as the ratio of the quantity in the substance to the quantity in an equal volume of a standard substance, as water or air.
    • Physics designating a physical constant that expresses a property or effect as a quantity per unit length, area, volume, or mass.

n. 

11. something specific, as a statement, quality, detail, etc.
12. Medicine a specific remedy:
    There is no specific for the common cold.

• Medieval Latin specificus, equivalent. to Latin speci(ēs) species + -ficus -fic
• 1625–35

spe•cif′i•cal•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. See special. 

Antonyms

• 2. vague.