Meaning & use
specialized
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Made, trained or developed for one particular purpose or field.
Grammar: Before a noun or after be: specialized equipment, the job is highly specialized.
Patterns
- specialized in something
- specialized for something
The lab uses specialized equipment to measure tiny vibrations.
She took a specialized course in marine biology.
The clinic offers specialized care for athletes.
adjectivenot comparablebiology
Of a body part or cell, changed to carry out one specific function.
Grammar: Used in biology: specialized cells.
Patterns
- specialized for something
Nerve cells are specialized for sending signals.
A giraffe's neck is a specialized feature for feeding.
Root hairs are specialized cells that absorb water.
Word forms
| comparative | more specialized |
|---|---|
| superlative | most specialized |
Common combinations
- specialized knowledge
- The task requires specialized knowledge.
- highly specialized
- He holds a highly specialized job.
- specialized training
- Pilots receive specialized training.
- specialized equipment
- Divers use specialized equipment.
- specialized cells
- Plants have specialized cells.
Synonyms and how they differ
- specific
- Specific means precise and particular, while specialized suggests expertise or design for one field.
- expert
- Expert describes a skilled person, while specialized describes a thing or job.
- technical
- Technical relates to the details of a field, but not necessarily narrow focus.
- niche
- Niche stresses a small market, while specialized stresses skill.
Opposites
Word family
- specialize verb
- to focus on one area
- specialist noun
- an expert in one area
- specialty noun
- a particular area of expertise
- specialization noun
- the process of becoming expert in one area
Commonly confused: specialized or special?
specialized vs special
Special means unusual or important; specialized means designed or trained for a narrow purpose.
Practice
A doctor who treats only heart problems is best described as ___.
Choose one answer.
Specialized describes expertise limited to one field. General is the opposite, and the others do not describe training.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “specialized”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.