Meaning & use
specimen
An individual sample or example of something, especially one used for scientific study or testing.
See it in a sentence
The lab technician labeled each blood specimen before sending it for analysis.
The museum displayed a rare specimen of the extinct beetle collected decades ago.
A note on using this word
In casual, sometimes humorous use, 'specimen' can describe an unusual or notable person, as in 'quite a specimen.'
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “specimen”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.