particular

noun

A small individual part of something larger; a detail, a point.

(now philosophy, chiefly in plural) A particular case; an individual thing as opposed to a whole class. (Opposed to generals, universals.)

(obsolete) A person's own individual case.

adjective

Specific; discrete; concrete.

Specialised; characteristic of a specific person or thing.

Distinguished in some way; special (often in negative constructions).

Concerned with, or attentive to, details; minute; circumstantial; precise.

(comparable) Of a person, concerned with, or attentive to, details; fastidious.

(law) Containing a part only; limited.

(law) Holding a particular estate.

(logic) Forming a part of a genus; relatively limited in extension; affirmed or denied of a part of a subject.

(obsolete) Pertaining only to a part of something; partial.

(obsolete) Known only to an individual person or group; confidential.

Roots

partiripart- · Latin · to divide, share out

Synonyms & related words for particular

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of particular — including specific, special, detail, specifically, exceptional, especial. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to particular

Explore words related to particular — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include overspecific, overparticular, particularity, particularize, particularization, specified, specialness, peculiarity. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for particular

Common synonyms for particular include specific, special, detail, specifically, exceptional, especial, item, certain — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does particular come from?

The word particular breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root part-, from Latin partiri (“to divide, share out”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.