Dictionary

specify en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈspɛs.ɪ.faɪ/ (UK)
• (UK) audio
• /ˈspɛs.əˌfaɪ/ (US)

Etymology

From Middle English specifien, from Old French specifier, especefier, or directly from Medieval Latin specificō, from specificus (“specific”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To state explicitly, or in detail, or as a condition.
   • I was nevere somouned, ne never hadde tydynges of this matier but by seyd lettres and other fleying tales that I heve herd sithen, ne nevere hadde to do more with the seyd John Wortes than is specified in the seyd instruccion. 1425 November 5, William Paston, edited by James Gairdner, Paston Letters, new edition, volume I, London: Edward Arber, published 1872, page 20:
   • But there is no need of specifying particulars in this class of uses. The catalogue is endless, and the examples so obvious, that I shall leave them to the reader’s reflection, with the general remark, that this mercenary benefit is one which has respect to a farther good. A man is fed, not that he may be fed, but that he may work. 1836, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Commodity”, in Nature, Boston: James Monroe and Company, page 18:
   • Thanne after came A riall ordenaunce, / Too myghty princes with a grete pusaunce, / ffro Masedeyn and owt of Arkadye, / Ther cowde no man the nowmber specifie. c. 1440, William Aldis Wright, editor, Generydes (in Middle English), London: N. Trübner & Co., published 1878, lines 1950–3, page 63:
2. (transitive) To include in a specification.
   • It seems to me that whoever at the Department of Transport or the train operating companies, or both, is specifying the standard of seats these days has taken leave of their senses and opted for cheapness over comfort. 2023 July 26, Pip Dunn, “Merseyrail '777s' are OK for passengers”, in RAIL, number 988, page 60:
3. (transitive) To bring about a specific result.
4. (intransitive, obsolete) To speak explicitly or in detail (often used with of).
   • Forthermar o þis lecheri / Agh i þe noght to specifie[…] c. 1300, Richard Morris, editor, Cursor Mundi [Runner of the World], volume I (in Middle English), London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., published 1893, lines 27958–9, page 1548:

Forms

Antonyms

generalize

Deriveds

unspecify · specifiability · subspecify · misspecify · prespecify · overspecify · underspecify · respecify · above-specified

Hyponyms

overspecify · underspecify · home in on · get to the point · respecify · zero in on · stipulate · cut to the chase

Relateds

specific · specification · come to · specifiable

Synonyms

call · specialize · name · narrow down · particularize · clarify · nominate · disambiguate · explicitize · get something straight · name · clear up · specificate · call out · singularize

Translations (39)

mi tauwhāiti (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · cs určit (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · fr spécifier (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · fi tarkentaa (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · cs zpřesnit (bring about a specific result) · ca especificar (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · et täpsustama (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · gl especificar (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · el προσδιορίζω (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · fi spesifioida (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · es pormenorizar (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · cs upřesnit (bring about a specific result) · nl specificeren (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · es circunstanciar (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · uk то́чно опи́сувати (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · it venire ai fatti (bring about a specific result) · de spezifizieren (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · ka დაკონკრეტება (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · fi määrittää (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · th ระบุ (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · el συγκεκριμενοποιώ (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · eo precizigi (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · cs určit (include in a specification) · mi tautuhi (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · it specificare (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · bg уточнявам (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · ka აკონკრეტებს (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · fi eritellä (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · pt especificar (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · fi määritellä (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · bg специфицирам (include in a specification) · bg установявам (bring about a specific result) · ga sonraigh (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · uk специфікува́ти (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · cs specifikovat (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · ga sonraigh (include in a specification) · bg определям (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · ast especificar (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition) · es especificar (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)