# specific vs specify

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### specific
*adjective · IPA /spɪˈsɪf.ɪk/ · frequency rank #1,005*
Explicit or definite.

### specify
*verb · IPA /ˈspɛs.ɪ.faɪ/ · frequency rank #9,963*
To state explicitly, or in detail, or as a condition.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/specific-vs-specify