specialty

noun

spe·​cial·​ty ˈspe-shəl-tē How to pronounce specialty (audio)
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

Examples of specialty in a Sentence

Buttermilk pie is a Southern specialty. a doctor with a specialty in dermatology
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Visit between April and October to try a South Florida specialty: fresh stone crab that’s caught by local fishermen and delivered dockside. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2025 For example, a food-tech startup importing specialty ingredients could collaborate with a major distributor that has warehousing in free trade zones. Abdo Riani, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025 The online-only deal applies to a build-your-own pizza or a specialty pie. Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025 Our role in the US health system is to fight back against pharma price gouging, and CVS Caremark has a long track record of making specialty drugs more affordable. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for specialty 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of specialty was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near specialty

Cite this Entry

“Specialty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specialty. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

specialty

noun
spe·​cial·​ty ˈspesh-əl-tē How to pronounce specialty (audio)
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 How to pronounce specialty (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on specialty

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