specific charge: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “specific charge” mean?
A clearly defined, particular, or individual fee, cost, or responsibility assigned to something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A clearly defined, particular, or individual fee, cost, or responsibility assigned to something.
In physics, the ratio of electric charge to mass for a given particle (e/m).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling conventions follow respective norms (e.g., 'centre' vs. 'center' in surrounding text).
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal British administrative language (e.g., council charges). In American English, perhaps more frequent in technical/scientific contexts.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, higher in specialised administrative, legal, and physics contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “specific charge” in a Sentence
The [Authority] imposes a specific charge on [Service/Item].The specific charge for [Particle] is [Value].Is there a specific charge for [Action]?Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “specific charge” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council will specifically charge for garden waste collection.
- They charge specifically for premium support.
American English
- The utility company specifically charges for paper billing.
- They charge specifically for expedited service.
adverb
British English
- The fee was specifically charged to the project account.
- He was charged specifically under the new bylaw.
American English
- The amount was specifically charged to my credit card.
- This cost is charged specifically to the tenant.
adjective
British English
- The specific charging policy was outlined in the brochure.
- We need a more specific charge-related breakdown.
American English
- The specific charge details are in the fine print.
- They provided specific charge codes for accounting.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A bank may apply a specific charge for international wire transfers.
Academic
The experiment aimed to measure the specific charge of the new ion.
Everyday
The hotel adds a specific charge for using the spa facilities.
Technical
The mass spectrometer separates ions based on their specific charge.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “specific charge”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “specific charge”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “specific charge”
- Using 'special charge' interchangeably (a 'special charge' is unusual/exceptional; a 'specific charge' is precisely defined).
- Omitting the article: 'We pay specific charge' (correct: 'We pay a specific charge').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not very common. It's mostly used in formal, administrative, or technical contexts. In everyday situations, people might say 'extra fee' or 'particular cost'.
A 'service charge' is a general fee for a service. A 'specific charge' is a fee for a very particular, defined element within or alongside that service (e.g., a specific charge for a room upgrade on top of the hotel's service charge).
Not as a fixed unit. The words can appear together when 'charge' is a verb modified by the adverb 'specifically' (e.g., 'They will charge specifically for repairs'). The term itself is a noun phrase.
In physics, 'charge' refers to electric charge, and 'specific' means 'per unit mass'. It's a technical term where 'specific' has a precise scientific meaning (like in 'specific heat capacity'), unrelated to the meaning of 'particular'.
A clearly defined, particular, or individual fee, cost, or responsibility assigned to something.
Specific charge is usually formal, technical in register.
Specific charge: in British English it is pronounced /spəˈsɪfɪk tʃɑːdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /spəˈsɪfɪk tʃɑːrdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific noun phrase]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SPECIFIC person being handed a bill (CHARGE) for a SPECIFIC service they used, not a general one.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCOUNTABILITY IS A BURDEN (a 'charge' is a financial burden assigned to a specific action).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'specific charge' most likely to be used?