# specimen

/ˈspɛsəmən/ (US) · /spˈɛsɪmən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/specimen
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. scientific example

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a single plant, animal, or object that is used as an example of its whole group for study.

For teachers: an individual animal, plant, or mineral used as an example of its species or type for scientific study or display.

- The museum has a perfect specimen of a rare butterfly from the Amazon.
- The botanist spent years searching for a well-preserved specimen of the orchid to include in the university's permanent collection.

Usage: Often used with 'of' to specify the category being represented.

### 2. medical sample

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a small amount of something from your body, like blood or urine, that a doctor tests.

For teachers: a sample of bodily fluid or tissue taken for diagnostic or analytical testing.

- The nurse asked the patient to provide a urine specimen for the lab.
- The laboratory required a fresh blood specimen to ensure the accuracy of the chemical analysis.

Usage: Commonly used in clinical and hospital settings.

### 3. a person

noun · CEFR C1 · Humorous · Informal

a person who has a very specific physical appearance or character.

For teachers: an individual person viewed as having particular physical or personality traits, often used with an adjective.

- The athlete was a fine physical specimen, tall and very strong.
- He was a curious specimen of a man, always wearing a heavy wool coat even in the middle of a heatwave.

Teaching tip: This sense is often used ironically or to describe someone's physical fitness.

## Examples

- The scientist carefully placed the butterfly specimen under the microscope.
- The museum's collection includes a rare specimen of a giant squid preserved in a large glass tank.
- While the botanist cataloged each floral specimen with clinical precision, the artist saw them as vibrant subjects for her next series of botanical illustrations.

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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.