specialize

Etymology

It is formed from English special + -ize,^[2][3][4][5] perhaps on the model of the French verb.^[3] The Oxford dictionaries and Dictionary.com take it instead as borrowed from French spécialiser (“to specialize”), from spécial (“special”).^[6][7][5] The OED, revised in 2015, treats it as an English formation and only compares Middle French specialiser, recorded once in 1535 and then from 1819 in the sense "to specify".^[2] Special is from Old French special and speciālis (“individual, particular”), from speciēs (“appearance, kind, sort”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

To go into particulars or details: 1613, in George Wither's satire Abuses Stript, a sense the OED marks obsolete after 1850.^[2] Etymonline dates the word to the 1610s in the sense "to indicate specially",^[3] and Merriam-Webster gives 1616 for the transitive sense "to consider separately, itemize".^[4]

Semantic evolution

In the 17th century the verb meant to mention something specially or specify it (1616) and to make something special or narrower in scope (1628); both are now rare.^[2][6] The 19th century brought a biological use: organisms or their parts are specialized in form or function (1835), and since 1850 they specialize, develop in a particular way.^[2] Etymonline dates the biological sense to 1851.^[3] The now usual sense, to concentrate on a particular subject or skill, is recorded from 1881, usually with in;^[2][3][6] from 1908 a shop or firm could also specialize in a product or service,^[2] and since 1923 the phrase was used, often disparagingly, of a habit one is known for.^[2]

Timeline

• 1613 – intransitive, to enter into particulars (obsolete by 1850).^[2]
• 1616 – transitive, to mention specially, specify.^[2][4]
• 1628 – to make special or narrower in scope.^[2]
• 1835 – biology, to adapt an organism or part to a special function, usually in the passive.^[2]
• 1850 – biology, intransitive, to develop in a particular way.^[2]
• 1881 – to concentrate on a particular subject, skill or line of work.^[2][3]
• 1908 – to deal mainly in a particular product or service.^[2]
• 1923 – often disparaging, to make a habit of some activity.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To concentrate on one particular subject, skill or kind of work, or to train for it; usually with in: She went on to specialize in maritime law.^[8][4][2]
2. Of a business, to deal mainly in one kind of product or service: The shop specializes in old maps.^[4][2]
3. In biology, to adapt an organism or its parts to a particular function or environment, or to develop in this way; usually in the passive.^[8][4][2]
4. To adapt something for a special use or purpose; to narrow it in scope.^[8][4][2]
5. To mention or deal with things one by one; to specify or itemize; now rare.^[8][4][2]
6. To go into detail.^[4]
7. In finance, to endorse a commercial paper to a named payee.^[8]

Word family

• specialization
• overspecialize
• nonspecializing

Related words

• special
• specialist
• specialty
• species
• specific

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
6. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ Stevenson, Angus, ed. (2010), Oxford Dictionary of English, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b c d e Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins