specify

verb

spec·​i·​fy ˈspe-sə-ˌfī How to pronounce specify (audio)
specified; specifying
Synonyms of specifynext

transitive verb

1
: to name or state explicitly or in detail
2
: to include as an item in a specification
specifiable
ˌspe-sə-ˈfī-ə-bəl How to pronounce specify (audio)
adjective
specifier
ˈspe-sə-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce specify (audio)
noun

Synonyms of specify

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of specify in a Sentence

Can you specify the cause of the argument? Specify the color and quantity when you order. He clearly specified California wine. The instructions do not specify what kind of screws to use. All subscriptions are for one year unless otherwise specified. At the specified time, we rang the bell. She agreed to the terms specified in the contract.
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.
The report didn’t specify the cause of the deaths, but said that the rain triggered landslides and other disasters. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 Isar officials did not immediately specify the exact altitude and inclination of the Spectrum rocket’s final orbit. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2026 Before the law went into effect in October 2024, the state Department of Public Health specified in a memo to hospital administrators that each hospital department must comply with the 80% benchmark. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026 Though Gyllenhaal didn’t specify exactly who asked for the AI version, the short is presented by automotive brand Genesis and produced by William Green for The Cut, Michelle Ross for Superprime, Nicolette Spencer and Melissa Moore for INNOCEAN. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for specify

Word History

Etymology

Middle English specifien, from Anglo-French specifier, from Late Latin specificare, from specificus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of specify was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing specify

Rhymes for specify

See All Rhymes for specify

Browse Nearby Words

specifier
specify
specimen
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Specify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specify. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

specify

verb
spec·​i·​fy ˈspes-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce specify (audio)
specified; specifying
1
: to name or mention exactly and clearly
specify the cause
2
: to include in a specification
specify oak flooring
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All