specimen

[ spes-uh-muhn ]

noun

1. a part or an individual taken as exemplifying a whole mass or number; a typical animal, plant, mineral, part, etc.

   Synonyms: pattern, model, type

2. (in medicine, microbiology, etc.) a sample of a substance or material for examination or study:

   a urine specimen; a tissue specimen.

3. a particular or peculiar kind of person.

specimen

/ ˈspɛsɪmɪn /

noun

1. 1. an individual, object, or part regarded as typical of the group or class to which it belongs
   2. ( as modifier )

      a specimen signature

      a specimen page

2. med a sample of tissue, blood, urine, etc, taken for diagnostic examination or evaluation
3. the whole or a part of an organism, plant, rock, etc, collected and preserved as an example of its class, species, etc
4. informal.
   a person

Word History and Origins

Origin of specimen¹

1600–10; < Latin: mark, example, indication, sign, equivalent to speci-, stem of specere to look, regard + -men noun suffix denoting result or means

Word History and Origins

Origin of specimen¹

C17: from Latin: mark, evidence, proof, from specere to look at

Synonym Study

See example.

Example Sentences

The specimen dates back 50 million years to the Eocene epoch, meaning this particular taxonomic group may be twice as old as scientists previously assumed.

From Ars Technica

The key to fine pruning is to end up with a specimen that is groomed and structurally sound but still looks natural.

From Washington Post

His 2016 NBA Finals heroics made him a champion, and his signature shoes have the best design concepts of the three, but he is neither a comparable scorer nor physical specimen.

From Washington Post

The oldest specimens studied by the La Jolla team were obtained about nine months ago, Weiskopf said.

From Washington Post

Although these policies apply to USGS scientists, they’re a good model of specimen stewardship for the entire scientific community.

From Popular-Science

I just love the fact that they believe me to be enough of a physical specimen to be a part of those organizations!

From The Daily Beast

He loved planting unusual trees, shrubs, and flowers throughout the grounds, and carefully directed where each specimen would go.

From The Daily Beast

That gave participants an opportunity to try taxidermy without skinning the specimen, which some people find hard to stomach.

From The Daily Beast

Under Mongolian law, any fossil specimen found in the Gobi Desert must stay in the possession of a Mongolian institution.

From The Daily Beast

Eventually, several people squat over a newspaper in the hopes of matching a fresh specimen with the one in question.

From The Daily Beast

As a rule, however, even in the case of extreme varieties, a careful examination of the specimen will enable it to be identified.

From Project Gutenberg

A moderately enlarged testis (probably regressing) was noted in the specimen from Pisté, on July 21.

From Project Gutenberg

Miss Thangue sat forward with the frank curiosity of the Englishwoman when inspecting a foreign specimen.

From Project Gutenberg

"A beautiful specimen; a man of great force," I unburdened myself when we got outside.

From Project Gutenberg

There was one honest dog in that company, but the two-legged specimen was a little "too sweet to be wholesome."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• copy
• exhibit
• variety