spec

1 of 3

noun

ˈspek 

1

: specification

—usually plural

also : a single quantity (such as a dimension or a measure of performance) describing a product especially as part of a specification

2

: speculation

built the house on spec

spec

2 of 3

verb

specced or spec'd ˈspekt  ; speccing

transitive verb

: to write specifications for

spec

3 of 3

abbreviation

1

special; specialist

2

specifically

Examples of spec in a Sentence

Noun

parts built according to spec

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Mini bar options are also decidedly high spec, including jars of cashews and pretty little boxes of Lindt chocolates. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Magnetic flux and polarity specs are hard to find because there’s no standard for measuring magnetic flux, and many users don’t seek or need this information. — ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026

Verb

Design first; then, everything downstream manufactures to spec. — Pradeep Prasana Kanagaraj, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Unlike the aforementioned 2014 release, the Air Jordan 6 Retro OG Sport Blue’s second-ever reissue will come with more true-to-spec Nike Air heel stitching. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

by alteration

First Known Use

Noun

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1965, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spec

• on spec

Rhymes for spec

• beck
• breck
• check
• cheque
• czech
• deck
• fleck
• keck
• mech
• neck
• peck
• reck

Kids Definition

spec

noun

ˈspek

: specification sense 2a

—usually used in plural

Legal Definition

spec

transitive verb

ˈspek

specced or spec'd ˈspekt  ; speccing

ˈspe-kiŋ

: to write specifications for