Basic Details
Word: Specific
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Exact and clearly stated, or belonging to one particular thing rather than to things in general.
Synonyms: particular, precise, exact, definite
Antonyms: general, vague
How to Spell Specific
Syllables: spe - cif - ic
Tricky part: The two c's sound different (the first like s, the last like k), so students write spesific or specifik. The middle vowel is an i: specefic is wrong.
Watch out for: spesific, specefic, specifik
Memory tip: Specific ends exactly like Pacific: -cific. Write spe and add the ocean's ending.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Can you tell me the specific day the parcel will arrive?
Example 2: Each spice in Dadi's garam masala has a specific job.
Example 3: The doctor said the medicine works only on a specific kind of infection.
Fun Fact
Scientists give every species a two-part name; the second part is called the specific name, as in Panthera tigris for the tiger.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word specific as used in the sentence:
The teacher gave us specific instructions on how to label the map.
a) detailed
b) vague
c) precise
d) exact
Show answer
b) vague. Exact, precise and detailed all mean the same as specific; vague instructions are unclear.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
sp_c_f_c
a) e, i, a
b) a, i, i
c) e, i, i
d) e, e, i
Show answer
c) e, i, i. Spe, then -cific with two i's, just as in Pacific.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Please give me a cpsicief reason for missing the practice session.
a) Pacific
b) specific
c) spicier
d) specifies
Show answer
b) specific. Pacific needs an a, spicier an r and specifies an extra s; what is left is specific.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is the most specific address?
a) somewhere in Pune
b) 14 Gandhi Road, Pune
c) a city in India
d) near a big road
Show answer
b) 14 Gandhi Road, Pune
2. When a teacher asks you to be specific, she wants you to ____.
a) write much faster
b) speak more loudly
c) keep your answer short
d) give exact details
Show answer
d) give exact details
