specific

particulier, précis

Désigne une personne, une chose ou un groupe en particulier parmi d’autres du même genre.

En anglais simple : Used when you mean one particular person, thing, or group rather than others of the same kind.

• Are you looking for a specific book?
• We chose this hotel for a specific reason.
• The money must be spent on specific projects.

Synonymes : particular

Contraires : general

Expressions courantes : a specific person, a specific reason, a specific purpose, a specific date

précis, détaillé

Qui donne des détails exacts permettant de comprendre clairement ce qu’on veut dire.

En anglais simple : Giving exact details so that people know clearly what you mean.

• Please give me specific instructions.
• Her description was not very specific.
• Can you be more specific about the price?

Comment l'utiliser : be specific about something (Please be specific about the changes you want.)

Synonymes : precise, exact, detailed

Contraires : vague

Expressions courantes : specific instructions, be more specific, specific details, a specific answer

spécifique

Qui reconnaît une maladie ou un état précis sans confondre d’autres états avec celui-ci.

En anglais simple : Able to identify one particular disease or condition without wrongly identifying other conditions as that one.

• The test is highly specific.
• We need a marker specific for this disease.
• A more specific test reduced the number of false positive results.

Comment l'utiliser : specific for something (This marker is highly specific for that infection.)

Contraires : nonspecific

Expressions courantes : a specific test, highly specific, specific diagnostic marker

spécifique

Qui traite une maladie précise elle-même, au lieu de seulement soulager ses symptômes.

En anglais simple : Treating a particular disease itself, rather than only reducing the problems it causes.

• There is no specific treatment for this disease.
• They searched for a specific remedy for the infection.
• Quinine was used as a specific medicine for malaria.

Comment l'utiliser : specific for something (The doctors sought a medicine specific for the disease.)

Expressions courantes : a specific remedy, specific treatment, specific medicine