specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty ˈspe-shəl-tē 

plural specialties

often attributive

1

: a distinctive mark or quality

2

a

: a special object or class of objects: such as

(1)

: a legal agreement embodied in a sealed instrument

(2)

: a product of a special kind or of special excellence

fried chicken is my specialty

b

: the state of being special, distinctive, or peculiar

3

: something in which one specializes

Synonyms

• area
• arena
• bailiwick
• barony
• business
• circle
• demesne
• department
• discipline
• domain
• element
• fief
• fiefdom
• field
• firmament
• front
• game
• kingdom
• line
• precinct
• province
• realm
• sphere
• terrain
• walk

Examples of specialty in a Sentence

Buttermilk pie is a Southern specialty.

a doctor with a specialty in dermatology

Recent Examples on the Web

In a statement this month, Centene's senior vice president of clinical and specialty services, Sarah Baiocchi, said Wellcare would offer the Value Script plan with no premium in 43 states. —Susan Jaffe, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024

In a statement this month, Sarah Baiocchi, Centene’s senior vice president of clinical and specialty services, said Wellcare would offer the Value Script plan with no premium in 43 states. —Susan Jaffe | Kff Health News, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024

Finding a preparer could take longer amid the industry’s staffing shortage, particularly for areas of specialty expertise, such as cryptocurrency or international taxes. —Kate Dore, Cfp®, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2024

Surging costs and plummeting economic opportunities activated by the onset of the 2020 pandemic caused a halt in beauty services altogether, which many professionals note across specialties. —Cierra Black, Essence, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English specialte, from Anglo-French especialté, from Late Latin specialitat-, specialitas, from Latin specialis special

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing specialty

• house specialty
• specialty of the house
• specialty shop
• sub-specialty

Kids Definition

specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty ˈspesh-əl-tē 

plural specialties

1

: a product of a special kind or of special excellence

eggs were the cook's specialty

2

: something a person specializes in or has special knowledge of

Medical Definition

specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty ˈspesh-əl-tē 

plural specialties

: something (as a branch of medicine) in which one specializes

Legal Definition

specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty

plural specialties

1

[from the special form of the contract] : formal contract at contract

2

: a doctrine providing that a person extradited can be prosecuted only for the charges described in the order for extradition

3

: real property (as a parcel of land or especially a structure) that is of such specialized character that no market for it exists and for which value upon condemnation is determined by the cost of reproduction less depreciation

—used especially in New York