Specific vs. Particular

Specific vs. Particular — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Specific and Particular

Specificadjective

explicit or definite

Particularadjective

(obsolete) Pertaining only to a part of something; partial.

Specificadjective

(sciences) Pertaining to a species.

Particularadjective

Specific; discrete; concrete.

I couldn't find the particular model you asked for, but I hope this one will do.We knew it was named after John Smith, but nobody knows which particular John Smith.

Specificadjective

(taxonomy) pertaining to a taxon at the rank of species

Particularadjective

Specialised; characteristic of a specific person or thing.

I don't appreciate your particular brand of cynicism.
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Specificadjective

special, distinctive or unique

Particularadjective

(obsolete) Known only to an individual person or group; confidential.

Specificadjective

intended for, or applying to, a particular thing

Particularadjective

Distinguished in some way; special (often in negative constructions).

My five favorite places are, in no particular order, New York, Chicago, Paris, San Francisco and London.I didn't have any particular interest in the book.He brought no particular news.She was the particular belle of the party.

Specificadjective

being a remedy for a particular disease

Quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria.

Particularadjective

(comparable) Of a person, concerned with, or attentive to, details; minute; precise; fastidious.

He is very particular about his food and if it isn't cooked to perfection he will send it back.Women are more particular about their appearance.
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Specificadjective

(immunology) limited to a particular antibody or antigen

Particularadjective

Concerned with, or attentive to, details; minute; circumstantial; precise.

a full and particular account of an accident

Specificadjective

(physics) of a value divided by mass (e.g. specific orbital energy)

Particularadjective

(legal) Containing a part only; limited.

a particular estate, or one precedent to an estate in remainder

Specificadjective

(physics) similarly referring to a value divided by any measure which acts to standardize it (e.g. thrust specific fuel consumption, referring to fuel consumption divided by thrust)

Particularadjective

(legal) Holding a particular estate.

a particular tenant

Specificadjective

(physics) a measure compared with a standard reference value by division, to produce a ratio without unit or dimension (e.g. specific refractive index is a pure number, and is relative to that of air)

Particularadjective

(logic) Forming a part of a genus; relatively limited in extension; affirmed or denied of a part of a subject.

a particular proposition, opposed to "universal", e.g. (particular affirmative) "Some men are wise"; (particular negative) "Some men are not wise".

Specificnoun

A distinguishing attribute or quality.

Particularnoun

A small individual part of something larger; a detail, a point.

Specificnoun

A remedy for a specific disease or condition.

Particularnoun

(obsolete) A person's own individual case.

Specificnoun

Specification

Particularnoun

A particular case; an individual thing as opposed to a whole class. (Opposed to generals, universals.)

Specificnoun

(in the plural) The details; particulars.

Particularnoun

a fact about some part (as opposed to general);

he always reasons from the particular to the general

Specificnoun

a fact about some part (as opposed to general);

he always reasons from the particular to the general

Particularnoun

a small part that can be considered separately from the whole;

it was perfect in all details

Specificnoun

a medicine that has a mitigating effect on a specific disease;

quinine is a specific for malaria

Particularadjective

unique or specific to a person or thing or category;

the particular demands of the jobhas a paraticular preference for Chinese arta peculiar bond of sympathy between theman expression peculiar to Canadiansrights peculiar to the richthe special features of a computermy own special chair

Specificadjective

(sometimes followed by `to') applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique;

rules with specific applicationdemands specific to the joba specific and detailed account of the accidentnonspecific enteritis

Particularadjective

separate and distinct from others;

an exception in this particular case

Specificadjective

stated explicitly or in detail;

needed a specific amount

Particularadjective

separate and distinct from others of the same group or category;

interested in one particular artista man who wishes to make a particular woman fall in love with him

Specificadjective

relating to or distinguishing or constituting a taxonomic species;

specific characters

Particularadjective

surpassing what is common or usual or expected;

he paid especial attention to herexceptional kindnessa matter of particular and unusual importancea special occasiona special reason to confide in herwhat's so special about the year 2000?

Specificadjective

being or affecting a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition; used also of stains or dyes used in making microscope slides;

quinine is highly specific for malariaa specific remedya specific stain is one having a specific affinity for particular structural elements

Particularadjective

first and most important;

his special interest is musicshe gets special (or particular) satisfaction from her volunteer work

Particularadjective

exacting especially about details;

a finicky eaterfussy about clothesvery particular about how her food was prepared

Particularadjective

providing specific details or circumstances;

a particular description of the room