particular

1 of 2

adjective

par·​tic·​u·​lar pər-ˈti-kyə-lər 

pə-,

-k(ə-)lər

1

: of, relating to, or being a single person or thing

the particular person I had in mind

2

: of, relating to, or concerned with details

gave us a very particular account of the trip

3

a

: distinctive among other examples or cases of the same general category : notably unusual

suffered from measles of particular severity

This computer program will be of particular interest to teachers.

b

: being one unit or element among others

particular incidents in a story

4

a

: concerned over or attentive to details : meticulous

a very particular gardener

b

: nice in taste : fastidious

She's very particular about her clothes.

c

: hard to please : exacting

never loses patience even with the most particular customers

5

a

: denoting an individual member or subclass in logic

b

: affirming or denying a predicate to a part of the subject

—used of a proposition in logic

"some men are wise" is a particular affirmative

6

obsolete : partial

particular

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an individual fact, point, circumstance, or detail

a hero in every particular

—Ron Fimrite

b

: a specific item or detail of information

—usually used in plural

wanted to know all the particulars of the incident

bill of particulars

2

a

: an individual or a specific subclass (as in logic) falling under some general concept or term

b

: a particular proposition in logic

Phrases

in particular

1

: in distinction from others : specifically

2

archaic : a separate part of a whole

Synonyms

Adjective

• choosy
• choosey
• dainty
• delicate
• demanding
• exacting
• fastidious
• finical
• finicking
• finicky
• fussbudgety
• fussy
• nice
• old-maidish
• pernickety [chiefly British]
• persnickety
• picky

Noun

• detail
• item
• point

Choose the Right Synonym for particular

Adjective

circumstantial, minute, particular, detailed mean dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point.

circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space.

a circumstantial account of our visit

minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details.

a minute examination of a fossil

particular implies a precise attention to every detail.

a particular description of the scene of the crime

detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail.

a detailed analysis of the event

special, especial, specific, particular, individual mean of or relating to one thing or class.

special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own.

special ingredients

especial may add implications of preeminence or preference.

a matter of especial importance

specific implies a quality or character distinguishing a kind or a species.

children with specific nutritional needs

particular stresses the distinctness of something as an individual.

a ballet step of particular difficulty

individual implies unequivocal reference to one of a class or group.

valued each individual opinion

Noun

item, detail, particular mean one of the distinct parts of a whole.

item applies to each thing specified separately in a list or in a group of things that might be listed or enumerated.

every item on the list

detail applies to one of the small component parts of a larger whole such as a task, building, painting, narration, or process.

leave the details to others

particular stresses the smallness, singleness, and especially the concreteness of a detail or item.

a description that included few particulars

Examples of particular in a Sentence

Adjective

The computer program will be of particular interest to teachers.

Pay particular attention to the poet's choice of words.

Our teacher is very particular when it comes to punctuation.

Noun

They wanted to know the facts down to every particular.

requested a bill of particulars for the care he received in the hospital

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The carriage of Japanese content on Chinese TV and streaming platforms has particular significance. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024

On the complex issue of disability disclosure in particular, Dales suggests that all too often companies are approaching this the wrong way round. —Gus Alexiou, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Noun

Not a god, not more particular than all particulars, but I get lost in simple repetitions and forget to speak with my whole heart. —Laura Kolbe, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

When working through ethical dilemmas, girls, Gilligan found, were inclined to consider the particulars of relationships alongside big moral ideals and virtues. —Elissa Strauss, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English particuler, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin particularis, from Latin particula small part

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing particular

• in particular

Kids Definition

particular

1 of 2 adjective

par·​tic·​u·​lar pə(r)-ˈtik-(y)ə-lər 

-ˈtik-lər

1

: of or relating to the separate parts of a whole

each particular item on the list

2

: of or relating to a single person or thing

my particular skills

3

: very unusual : special

a storm of particular violence

4

: hard to please : fastidious

particular about their clothes

particular

2 of 2 noun

: an individual fact, detail, or item

Legal Definition

particular

adjective

par·​tic·​u·​lar

in the civil law of Louisiana : of or relating to a designated property or to the inheritance of it compare universal