SPECIALISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does specialism mean? 

• SPECIALISM (noun)
  The noun SPECIALISM has 2 senses:

1. the concentration of your efforts on a particular field of study or occupation

2. the special line of work you have adopted as your career

  Familiarity information: SPECIALISM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPECIALISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The concentration of your efforts on a particular field of study or occupation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("specialism" is a kind of...):

absorption; concentration; engrossment; immersion (complete attention; intense mental effort)

Derivation:

specialist (an expert who is devoted to one occupation or branch of learning)

specialist (practices one branch of medicine)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The special line of work you have adopted as your career

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

specialisation; specialism; speciality; specialization; specialty

Context example:

his specialization is gastroenterology

Hypernyms ("specialism" is a kind of...):

calling; career; vocation (the particular occupation for which you are trained)

Derivation:

specialist (an expert who is devoted to one occupation or branch of learning)

specialist (practices one branch of medicine)

 Context examples 

All other men are specialists, but his specialism is omniscience.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)