ENGLISH
REFERENCE

specialty

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈspeɪʃəɫti// spe·cial·ty Archaic

n. a subject or skill that someone knows a lot about or is very good at. It can also be a product or food that a place is famous for.

n. a particular area of expertise, study, or skill in which someone excels. Also refers to a product or service for which a person or place is specifically known.


SIMPLE

The chef's specialty is spicy seafood pasta.

CONTEXTUAL

After years of general practice, the lawyer decided to make intellectual property her specialty.

COMPLEX

While the hospital provides general care, its true specialty lies in pediatric oncology, attracting patients from across the country for its innovative treatment protocols.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English specialte, Old French specialte, especialte, from Latin specialitas.

Usage

Commonly followed by the preposition 'in' when referring to a field of study or 'of' when referring to a specific product.

Pitfall

His speciality is history.His specialty is history.While both are correct, 'specialty' is the standard spelling in American English, whereas 'speciality' is the standard in British English.

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference