specify

1 of 2

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

specifier

2 of 2

noun

spec·​i·​fi·​er ˈspesəˌfī(ə)r How to pronounce specifier (audio)
-īə
plural -s
: one that specifies (as by giving details or particulars)
especially : a person who draws up specifications (as for obtaining a patent)

Synonyms of specify

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of specify in a Sentence

Verb 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.
Verb
Today, to qualify for a CEP grant, hopefuls must show popular support by raising a sum specified for their office in contributions between $5 and $340 and a number of donors must be future constituents. — Elona Vaisnys, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026 The façade was lighted from below by the exterior lights that specified the building, separated it from the other night buildings. — Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell didn't specify in a post on X which media outlet Kendall was accused of sharing classified information with. — Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026 If a model can generate the code, the scarce input left is the judgment to what to build (taste), to specify, review and ship it. — Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for specify

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

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 10 Aug. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on specify

Nglish: Translation of specify for Spanish Speakers

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All