specialization
gb/spˌɛʃələzˈeɪʃən/ us/spˌɛʃələzˈeɪʃən/
B2
Inglês
~ 8000
Aceções
0 aceções
Nome
B2
entity
1
main field of work or study
A main subject or skill that a person chooses to focus on and become very good at.
Padrão de uso:
[someone]'s specialization is [field]
Erro comum:
Learners often confuse "specialization" with "major." In university contexts, "major" is more common in everyday speech (especially in American English), while "specialization" can sound more formal or narrow. Another mistake is using the wrong preposition: say "a specialization in marketing," not "a specialization on marketing."
Sinónimos
specialty (Very close in meaning; often a bit more informal and slightly more common in everyday speech, especially for jobs and food (e.g., a chef’s specialty).)
Antónimos
generalist (Refers to a person who has broad skills and knowledge in many areas instead of one clear specialization.)
Colocações
area of specialization
|field of specialization
|medical specialization
|technical specialization
|professional specialization
|academic specialization
Temas
education
|work
|business
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Her main specialization is environmental law.
- The program allows students to choose a specialization in their final year.
- Data security is a growing specialization within information technology.
- He completed his medical degree with a specialization in cardiology.
- Marketing analytics has become a highly valued specialization in many companies.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- My specialization is computer graphics.
- She wants a specialization in child psychology.
- This course is good for students with a business specialization.
- He changed his specialization from chemistry to biology.
- IT security is a useful specialization today.
Nome
C1
action
2
process of narrowing focus
The act of doing or learning fewer kinds of things so you can do those few things very well.
Padrão de uso:
the specialization of [work/roles/tasks]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes treat this sense as always countable. When talking about the general trend or process, "specialization" is usually uncountable (e.g., "increasing specialization," not *"an increasing specialization" unless you mean one specific case).
Sinónimos
narrowing (More general word; does not always include the idea of professional or functional focus that "specialization" has.)
Antónimos
diversification (Describes doing or producing many different kinds of things, the opposite of focusing on a narrow set of tasks.)
Colocações
increasing specialization
|job specialization
|role specialization
|high degree of specialization
|division and specialization of labor
|trend toward specialization
Temas
work
|business
|society
|education
Exemplos
- Increasing specialization in the workplace has created many highly focused roles.
- The specialization of tasks helped the company produce goods more efficiently.
- Modern societies rely on a high level of specialization to function smoothly.
- In smaller firms, there is less specialization, so employees must handle many different duties.
- The report describes a clear trend toward specialization in higher education.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- There is more specialization in big companies.
- Specialization of work can save time.
- Modern life needs a high level of specialization.
- With less specialization, each worker does many jobs.
- The book talks about specialization in modern society.
Nome
technical
C1
event
3
cells or organs becoming specialized
In biology, the way that cells or body parts change so they can do one special job well.
Padrão de uso:
the specialization of [cells/tissues/organs] for [function]
Erro comum:
Learners may confuse "specialization" with "species" or "speciation" in biology because of similar spelling. "Specialization" is about cells or parts getting a specific job; "speciation" is about new species forming.
Sinónimos
differentiation (More precise technical term in biology; often used specifically for cells becoming different types, while "specialization" can more broadly emphasize the function.)
Antónimos
undifferentiated (Describes cells or tissues that have not taken on a specific structure or function, which is the opposite state of specialized structures.)
Colocações
cell specialization
|functional specialization
|specialization of cells
|specialization of tissues
|neural specialization
|adaptation and specialization
Temas
biology
|science
|health
Exemplos
- Cell specialization allows muscle cells and nerve cells to perform very different functions.
- The specialization of tissues is essential for the development of complex organisms.
- Brain specialization helps different regions control movement, language, and vision.
- Evolution has led to extreme specialization in the feeding structures of some insects.
- The paper explores the relationship between cell specialization and organism complexity.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Cell specialization happens as the body grows.
- Specialization of cells lets them do different jobs.
- Tissue specialization is important in complex animals.
- Brain specialization means different parts do different things.
- In biology class we studied cell specialization.
Nome
technical
C1
state
4
economic focus on certain products
In economics, when people or places make only a few kinds of products or services so they can do them very well and trade with others.
Padrão de uso:
specialization in the production of [goods/services]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use "specialization" here to talk about a person’s job choice (which fits sense 1) instead of a wider economic pattern. When the subject is a country, industry, or region, it usually refers to the economic sense.
Sinónimos
division of labor (Related but not identical; "division of labor" is about splitting tasks, while "specialization" focuses on repeatedly doing a limited set of tasks or products.)
Antónimos
self-sufficiency (Describes producing everything you need yourself instead of specializing and relying on trade.)
Colocações
economic specialization
|regional specialization
|trade and specialization
|specialization and comparative advantage
|specialization in services
|industrial specialization
Temas
economics
|business
|finance
Exemplos
- International trade is driven by specialization and comparative advantage.
- The region’s specialization in high-tech manufacturing has boosted its economy.
- Economic specialization allows countries to focus on what they produce most efficiently.
- Over time, industrial specialization has made global supply chains more complex.
- The textbook explains how specialization and trade can increase total output.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Many countries gain from specialization and trade.
- This city’s specialization is car production.
- Economic specialization can make workers more efficient.
- Regional specialization means each area makes different things.
- The lesson was about specialization in international trade.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
specialization
IPA
GB/spˌɛʃələzˈeɪʃən/
US/spˌɛʃələzˈeɪʃən/
Sílabas e acento
spe - cial - iz - a - tion (5 sílabas)
Stress on 4th syllable (a)
Formas da palavra
Noun
- Base: specialization
- Plural: specialization, specializations
Família de palavras
Forms
specializations
noun
Core family
special
adjective A2
specialize
verb B1
specialist
noun B1
specialized
adjective
especially
adverb A2
Negative and opposite forms
unspecialized
adjective
generalist
noun C1
Advanced or less common
specialism
noun
overspecialization
noun
Expressões
area of specialization
1/ˈɛɹiə əv spˌɛʃələzˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
person’s main expert field
The subject or skill that a person mainly works in or studies and knows best.
Exemplos
- My area of specialization is corporate finance.
- The university is known for its strong areas of specialization in engineering and medicine.
- You should choose an area of specialization that matches your interests.
field of specialization
1/fˈild əv spˌɛʃələzˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
professional or academic domain
The professional or study area that someone has chosen to focus on.
Exemplos
- Her field of specialization is international human rights law.
- Applicants must state their field of specialization on the form.
- Neuroscience is a challenging field of specialization.