specification

noun

spec·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌspe-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

ˌspes-fə-

1

: the act or process of specifying

2

a

: a detailed precise presentation of something or of a plan or proposal for something

—usually used in plural

b

: a statement of legal particulars (as of charges or of contract terms)

also : a single item of such statement

c

: a written description of an invention for which a patent is sought

Examples of specification in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Key specifications were listed, including a 3,786 mAh battery (which would likely be listed as 3,900 mAh on consumer spec sheets). —Ewan Spence, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

The Wi-Fi 5 wireless specification (also known as 802.11ac) was the first consumer networking standard to be measured in gigabits rather than megabits per second, with a top speed of a whopping 3.46Gbps. —PCMAG, 11 Mar. 2025

But because their elliptic curve had to be constructed so carefully and meet so many specifications, there were lots of additional constraints on what those three primes could be. —Joseph Howlett, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2025

The initial optimization takes a few minutes to several hours to arrive at a pattern of loop currents that will produce an output matching the designers’ specifications. —IEEE Spectrum, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for specification

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

specification

noun

spec·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌspes-(ə-)fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the act or process of specifying

2

a

: a description of work to be done or materials to be used

—usually used in plural

the architect's specifications for a new building

b

: a single specified item

Legal Definition

specification

noun

spec·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌspe-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

: a detailed precise presentation of something or of a plan or proposal for something: as

a

: a written statement containing a description of particulars (as of charges or contract terms)

b

: a written description of an invention or discovery for which a patent is sought that embodies the manner and process of making and using the invention or discovery and concludes with a claim of that aspect for which the applicant demands credit

c

: a written description of construction work to be done forming part of the contract

—usually used in pl.