specimen

noun

spec·​i·​men ˈspe-sə-mən 

ˈspes-mən

1

a

: an individual, item, or part considered typical of a group, class, or whole

b

: a portion or quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study

a urine specimen

2

a

: something that obviously belongs to a particular category but is noticed by reason of an individual distinguishing characteristic

b

: person, individual

he's a tough specimen

3

: a plant grown for exhibition or in the open to display its full development

specimen trees

Synonyms

• baby
• being
• bird
• bod [British]
• body
• character
• cookie
• cooky
• creature
• customer
• devil
• duck
• egg
• face
• fish
• guy
• head
• human
• human being
• individual
• life
• man
• mortal
• party
• person
• personage
• scout
• slob
• sort
• soul
• stiff
• thing
• wight

Choose the Right Synonym for specimen

instance, case, illustration, example, sample, specimen mean something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category.

instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain.

an instance of history repeating itself

case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with.

a case of mistaken identity

illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement.

a telling illustration of Murphy's Law

example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case.

a typical example of bureaucratic waste

sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities.

show us a sample of your work

specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available.

one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

Examples of specimen in a Sentence

The church is a magnificent specimen of baroque architecture.

Her dance partner is a superb physical specimen.

Recent Examples on the Web

Serious shellers know to get to the beach early for prime specimens like sand dollars, whelks, and scallops. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025

But re-sequencing genomes from older specimens that lived before the shipwreck has confirmed that the insects living on Ball’s Pyramid survived extinction on Lord Howe Island, according to an October 2017 study published in Current Biology. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025

The specimens found in the Wadhurst Clay Formation — older than those from the Isle of Wight — represent an important step in paleontology centered around southern England. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 1 Jan. 2025

Defenders of the body trade say that human specimens are essential for educating students and doctors. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from specere to look at, look — more at spy

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing specimen

• type specimen

Kids Definition

specimen

noun

spec·​i·​men ˈspes-(ə-)mən 

1

: a part or a single thing that shows what the whole thing or group is like : sample

2

: a portion of material for use in testing or examination

a blood specimen

3

: person sense 1, individual

he's a tough specimen

Medical Definition

specimen

noun

spec·​i·​men ˈspes-(ə-)mən 

1

: an individual, item, or part typical of a group, class, or whole

2

: a portion or quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study

a urine specimen