Meaning & use
specialized knowledge
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
deep understanding of a particular subject or field, gained through training or experience.
Grammar: Uncountable: no plural and no 'a' or 'an' before it.
Patterns
- specialized knowledge of something
- specialized knowledge in a field
- require specialized knowledge
The job requires specialized knowledge of computer security.
She has specialized knowledge in marine biology.
Without specialized knowledge, it is hard to understand the report.
Common combinations
- specialized knowledge of
- He has specialized knowledge of ancient languages.
- specialized knowledge in
- The course gives students specialized knowledge in engineering.
- require specialized knowledge
- Fixing this machine requires specialized knowledge.
- a high level of specialized knowledge
- The position demands a high level of specialized knowledge.
Synonyms and how they differ
- expertise
- Very close in meaning, but often suggests practical skill as well as knowledge.
- know-how
- More informal and focuses on practical ability to do something.
Opposites
Word family
- specialize verb
- to focus on one subject or area
- specialist noun
- a person with deep knowledge of one area
- specialization noun
- the act of focusing on one subject
Commonly confused: specialized knowledge or general knowledge?
specialized knowledge vs general knowledge
This means basic information about many subjects, the opposite of deep knowledge in one area.
Practice
The project needs someone with specialized knowledge ______ climate data.
Choose one answer.
'Specialized knowledge of' is the most common and natural pattern when talking about a specific subject. 'About' is possible in informal speech but less precise, and 'in' is used for a field, not a subject like 'climate data'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “specialized knowledge”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.