particularity
C1Formal, Academic
Definition
Meaning
The quality of being individual, specific, or distinct.
A small, precise detail or characteristic that distinguishes something; an individual feature. In philosophy, the state of being a particular, concrete instance rather than a general or abstract concept.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often refers to a distinctive detail or feature, sometimes with a nuance of excessive or minute attention to detail.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or spelling. The word is used similarly in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal writing and academic contexts in both varieties.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both, but stable across formal registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
particularity of [something]particularity that [clause]with the particularity ofVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in all its particularity (formal - meaning with all its specific details)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in formal reports to discuss unique aspects of a local market or product specification.
Academic
Common in humanities and social sciences (e.g., history, anthropology, philosophy) to discuss specific, non-universal traits of a culture, event, or text.
Everyday
Very rare. Would sound overly formal.
Technical
Used in legal contexts ('with sufficient particularity') meaning with enough specific detail.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The architect paid attention to every particularity of the original design.
- Each region has its own cultural particularities.
- The historian emphasised the particularity of the event, arguing against broad generalisations.
- The legal complaint was dismissed for lacking sufficient particularity in its allegations.
- The novel's power lies in its vivid depiction of the particularities of small-town life.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PARTICULAR detective focusing on one tiny, specific PARTICLE of evidence. Particularity is about those specific 'particles' or details.
Conceptual Metaphor
DETAIL IS A SMALL OBJECT / DISTINCTIVENESS IS A FINGERPRINT
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'particular' as in 'especially' (особенно).
- Can be a false friend for 'particularitet' (particularity) but is much higher register in English.
- Often better translated as 'специфика', 'особенность', or 'деталь' depending on context, not 'партикуляризм' (which is 'particularism').
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a synonym for 'peculiar' in a negative sense (e.g., 'his strangeness' is not 'his particularity').
- Using in informal contexts where 'detail' or 'feature' would be more natural.
- Misspelling as 'particularity' (double 'r').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'particularity' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word used primarily in academic, legal, and literary contexts.
They are close synonyms. 'Particularity' often emphasises individuality or uniqueness, while 'specificity' emphasises precision and lack of vagueness.
It is neutral, but can imply excessive attention to trivial details in some contexts, similar to 'fastidiousness'.
The symbol /t̬/ represents a 'flap' or 'tap' sound, like the 'tt' in the American pronunciation of 'butter' or 'latter'. It sounds very close to a soft /d/.
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