particular
Other forms: particulars
As an adjective, particular describes something specific, such as when you prefer one particular type of cereal over another. The noun form means specific points or details, as in the particulars of a police investigation.
The idea of particular referring to details comes from the Latin particula, which means "particle" or "small part," and in Middle English the word meant something that referred to a single person or thing. You can note that in the phrase "in particular" which means "especially." As in, one breed of dog in particular would suit you best, with your floppy ears and friendly personality.
Definitions of particular
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unique or specific to a person or thing or category
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separate and distinct from others of the same group or category“interested in one particular artist”“a man who wishes to make a particular woman fall in love with him”
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Synonyms:
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specific
(sometimes followed by `to') applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique
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specific
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surpassing what is common or usual or expected“a matter of particular and unusual importance”
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synonyms:
especial, exceptional, special
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uncommon
not common or ordinarily encountered; unusually great in amount or remarkable in character or kind
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uncommon
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first and most important
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(logic) a proposition that asserts something about some (but not all) members of a class
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synonyms:
particular proposition
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Antonyms:
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universal, universal proposition
(logic) a proposition that asserts something of all members of a class
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type of:
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proposition
(logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false
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universal, universal proposition
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providing specific details or circumstances“a particular description of the room”
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Synonyms:
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careful
exercising caution or showing care or attention
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careful
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exacting especially about details“very particular about how her food was prepared”
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fastidious
giving careful attention to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned with cleanliness
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fastidious
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a small part that can be considered separately from the whole
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types:
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high spot, highlight
the most interesting or memorable part
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accent
a detail or feature that adds visual emphasis to or contrasts with its surroundings
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type of:
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component, component part, constituent, moiety, part, portion
something determined in relation to something that includes it
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high spot, highlight
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a fact about some part (as opposed to general)
Pronunciation
US
/pɑrˈtɪkjulər/
UK
/pəˈtɪkjulə/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘particular'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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