specialty
Americannoun
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specialties
plural
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a special or distinctive quality, mark, state, or condition.
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a special subject of study, line of work, area of interest, or the like.
His specialty is art criticism.
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an article or service particularly dealt in, rendered, manufactured, etc., or one to which the provider, dealer, or manufacturer claims to devote special care.
The manufacturer's specialty is fine hats.
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an article of unusual or superior design or quality.
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a novelty; a new article.
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an article with such strong consumer demand that it is at least partially removed from price competition.
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a special or particular point, item, matter, characteristic, or peculiarity.
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Law.
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a special agreement, contract, etc., expressed in an instrument under seal.
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a negotiable instrument not under seal.
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adjective
noun
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law a formal contract or obligation expressed in a deed
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a special interest or skill
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a service or product specialized in, as at a restaurant
roast beef was a specialty of the house
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( as modifier )
a specialty dish
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a special or distinguishing feature or characteristic
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of specialty
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English specialte, specialite “particular affection, fondness,” from Old French especialte, specialte “special quality, favor, or privilege,” from Latin speciālitāt- (inflectional stem of speciālitās) “particularity, peculiarity”; see special, -ity
Explanation
A specialty is someone's strong suit or area of expertise. A restaurant’s best dish would be its specialty. If you love baking muffins, make that your specialty. Magic Johnson was a great overall basketball player, but his specialty was passing the ball to teammates and getting assists. A specialty is a skill, strength, or asset someone has because of hard work. A doctor can have a specialty such as cardiology. A restaurant will usually have a specialty, which is a unique meal they're known for making. Just like special things have something unique or great about them, specialties are something a person or place does well.
Vocabulary lists containing specialty
Ghost
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Lesson 1
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"Harbor Me" by Jacqueline Woodson
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I’ve also become a fan of using prepared specialty cheese spreads to make indulgent broccoli.
From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026
A specialty doctor in breast surgery, Dr McFarlane said the pilot clinic was working to improve support for patients experiencing symptoms of complex menopause.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
WSJ | Buy Side: These top wealth-management firms offer comprehensive financial planning that might include portfolio management, tax and estate planning, and specialty services like family office structuring.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
While specialty tires and higher registration fees can eat into your savings, lower routine maintenance costs is one of the financial advantages of owning a used EV.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026
Ivy always drew the most beautiful artwork—her specialty was fairy-tale palaces covered in leafy vines that perfectly matched Ivy’s name.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Indian chefs who have worked at prestigious restaurants, including overseas, teach their respective specialties: Indian, European, Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, as well as bakery and pastry-making.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
They were allegedly one of Nathan’s specialties, and a hot commodity among embattled celebrities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026
The fresh cash will support the company’s plans to build new hospitals and add medical specialties.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
"Active and efficient communication between specialties is often necessary due to the complexities associated with CKD," noted Prof. Herrington.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026
They are one of her specialties, something her guests have come to expect, handed to them on small plates within minutes of their arrival.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
