specialty
SPEHSH-uhl-tee
Specialty (noun) means a particular area of skill, work, or interest that someone focuses on. Example: “Our new vet has a particular specialty in treating rabbits and other small animals.”
noun
1
A particular area of skill, work, or interest that someone focuses on.
"Our new vet has a particular specialty in treating rabbits and other small animals."
"Baking bread is her specialty."
"His specialty is corporate tax law."
2
A product especially associated with, or characteristic of, a particular place.
"Smoked salmon is a local specialty, and every café in the harbour town sells it."
"We tried the regional specialty, a rich stew that the village is famous for."
"Paella is a specialty of the Valencia region."
How to use specialty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe particular thing someone (or somewhere) is known for doing especially well.
UK vs US
British English typically spells this "speciality."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
house specialty
area of specialty
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Word forms
- Plural
- specialties
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Our new vet has a particular _____ in treating rabbits and other small animals.
Etymology
From Old French specialte, ultimately from Latin specialitas.
Synonyms
View more →
forte
strength
expertise
niche
field
strong suit
peculiarity
speciality
specialism
distinctiveness
specialisation
metier
Related words
Rhymes for specialty
See all rhymes for specialty →Frequently asked questions
What does “specialty” mean?
The word “specialty” means a particular area of skill, work, or interest that someone focuses on. In plain terms, the particular thing someone (or somewhere) is known for doing especially well.
How do you pronounce “specialty”?
“Specialty” is pronounced SPEHSH-uhl-tee (/ˈspɛʃ.əl.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “specialty” in a sentence?
Here is “specialty” used in a sentence: “Baking bread is her specialty.”
What part of speech is “specialty”?
“Specialty” is a noun.
Where does the word “specialty” come from?
The word “specialty” comes from Latin. From Old French specialte, ultimately from Latin specialitas.
Is “specialty” a common word?
“Specialty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “specialty” have?
“Specialty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a particular area of skill, work, or interest that someone focuses on.
What is the difference between 'specialty' and 'speciality'?
They are the same word with different spellings: 'specialty' is standard in American English, while 'speciality' is more common in British English. British writers still use 'specialty' in some fixed contexts, such as medical fields.
What is the difference between a 'specialty' and a 'hobby'?
A 'specialty' is an area of skill, work, or interest that someone focuses on and is often especially good at. A 'hobby' is something done for pleasure in one's spare time, and need not involve any particular expertise.
What is the difference between 'specialty' and 'specialisation'?
A 'specialty' is the particular field or skill you concentrate on, while 'specialisation' (or 'specialization') is the process of narrowing your focus to that field. In short, specialisation is how you develop a specialty.
