# specialty

/ˈspeɪʃəɫti/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/specialty
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. area of expertise

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a subject or skill that you know a lot about or are very good at.

For teachers: a specific field of study, professional expertise, or talent in which one excels.

- The doctor's specialty is heart surgery, so she spends most of her time in the operating room.
- While the firm handles various legal matters, their primary specialty lies in intellectual property disputes involving international patents.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'in'.

### 2. characteristic product

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a product, often food, that a specific place or restaurant is famous for.

For teachers: a product or service that originates in and is uniquely characteristic of a specific location or establishment.

- Fresh seafood is the specialty of this small coastal town.
- The chef prepared the house specialty, a slow-roasted duck that has been on the menu since the restaurant opened in 1920.

### 3. legal contract

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a formal legal agreement that is signed and has a special seal.

For teachers: a contract or obligation under seal, such as a deed, which is distinguished from a simple contract.

- The lawyer explained that a specialty is a formal document that doesn't always need proof of payment to be valid.
- Under common law, a specialty is an instrument under seal that creates a binding obligation even in the absence of consideration.

Usage: Usually refers to a 'specialty debt' or 'contract by specialty'.

## Examples

- The chef's specialty is spicy seafood pasta.
- After years of general practice, the lawyer decided to make intellectual property her specialty.
- While the hospital provides general care, its true specialty lies in pediatric oncology, attracting patients from across the country for its innovative treatment protocols.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.