particular
1 of 2adjective
par·tic·u·lar pər-ˈti-kyə-lər 
pə-,
-k(ə-)lər
1
: of, relating to, or being a single person or thing
the particular person I had in mind
2
: of, relating to, or concerned with details
gave us a very particular account of the trip
3
a
: distinctive among other examples or cases of the same general category : notably unusual
suffered from measles of particular severity
This computer program will be of particular interest to teachers.
b
: being one unit or element among others
particular incidents in a story
4
a
: concerned over or attentive to details : meticulous
a very particular gardener
b
: nice in taste : fastidious
She's very particular about her clothes.
c
: hard to please : exacting
never loses patience even with the most particular customers
5
a
: denoting an individual member or subclass in logic
b
: affirming or denying a predicate to a part of the subject —used of a proposition in logic
"some men are wise" is a particular affirmative
6
obsolete : partial
particular
2 of 2noun
1
a
: an individual fact, point, circumstance, or detail
a hero in every particular
Ron Fimrite
Ron Fimrite b
: a specific item or detail of information —usually used in plural
wanted to know all the particulars of the incidentbill of particulars
2
a
: an individual or a specific subclass (as in logic) falling under some general concept or term
b
: a particular proposition in logic
Synonyms
Adjective
- choosy
- choosey
- dainty
- delicate
- demanding
- exacting
- fastidious
- finical
- finicking
- finicky
- fussbudgety
- fussy
- nice
- old-maidish
- pernickety [chiefly British]
- persnickety
- picky
Noun
- detail
- item
- point
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The computer program will be of particular interest to teachers. Pay particular attention to the poet's choice of words. Our teacher is very particular when it comes to punctuation. Noun They wanted to know the facts down to every particular. requested a bill of particulars for the care he received in the hospital
Recent Examples on the Web Stacy Bratcher, STAT, 16 Sep. 2022 That particular detail was amusing to Dawson, who’s British. Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 The notion of a signature as a unique representation of a particular individual gradually came to be enshrined in the law and accepted as legitimate legal evidence. Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2022 He had last been seen using this particular walking stick publicly in 2013. Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2022 Britons seem to feel this particular queen instead set them free, inspiring the better part of their national identity. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 In my opinion, walking music has a particular sound. Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 16 Sep. 2022 The particular hue of blue is also representative of the holy figure. Jailynn Taylor, Essence, 15 Sep. 2022 The Great Australian Bake Off is being filmed in Sydney in the iconic 'shed' where the contestants will participate in particular baking challenges over a span of 10 weeks. Alicia Vrajlal, refinery29.com, 15 Sep. 2022 Joanna Stern, WSJ, 25 June 2020 Milken’s pardon in particular was backed by many longtime Trump allies. Author: Ellen Milligan, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Feb. 2020 Trade in soybeans and pork in particular has been hit hard as tensions have escalated between the world's two largest economies. Michelle Toh, CNN, 16 Jan. 2020 But many of the other particulars – whether to provide hand sanitizer, how to arrange the aisles, how to handle waiting in line -- falls to local businesses, to corporate executive, to individual shoppers across Alabama. Dennis Pillion | Dpillion@al.com, al, 30 Apr. 2020 In typical Putin style, the particulars were left vague, to be decided later. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2020 The particulars vary, but drivers often recount having received a ticket for an expired meter, despite paying for time with the Parkmobile app, which became a payment option for many of the city's parking meters in 2015. Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 2019 With so much unknown about the particulars and the practicality of a season, there is no blueprint to even start talks between the league and the players. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2020 Here’s a look at the particulars for other cities:* Anniston had 30.62 inches of rain over the past three months, which is the wettest on record. Leigh Morgan, al, 1 Apr. 2020 See More
Adjective
The law specifically prohibits incentives that are likely to influence an individual’s choice of provider for particular services. Stacy Bratcher, STAT, 16 Sep. 2022 That particular detail was amusing to Dawson, who’s British. Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 The notion of a signature as a unique representation of a particular individual gradually came to be enshrined in the law and accepted as legitimate legal evidence. Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2022 He had last been seen using this particular walking stick publicly in 2013. Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2022 Britons seem to feel this particular queen instead set them free, inspiring the better part of their national identity. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 In my opinion, walking music has a particular sound. Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 16 Sep. 2022 The particular hue of blue is also representative of the holy figure. Jailynn Taylor, Essence, 15 Sep. 2022 The Great Australian Bake Off is being filmed in Sydney in the iconic 'shed' where the contestants will participate in particular baking challenges over a span of 10 weeks. Alicia Vrajlal, refinery29.com, 15 Sep. 2022 Noun
The observation has held up over the ages, and there’s no better time to be wary of it than at this particular... Joanna Stern, WSJ, 25 June 2020 Milken’s pardon in particular was backed by many longtime Trump allies. Author: Ellen Milligan, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Feb. 2020 Trade in soybeans and pork in particular has been hit hard as tensions have escalated between the world's two largest economies. Michelle Toh, CNN, 16 Jan. 2020 But many of the other particulars – whether to provide hand sanitizer, how to arrange the aisles, how to handle waiting in line -- falls to local businesses, to corporate executive, to individual shoppers across Alabama. Dennis Pillion | Dpillion@al.com, al, 30 Apr. 2020 In typical Putin style, the particulars were left vague, to be decided later. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2020 The particulars vary, but drivers often recount having received a ticket for an expired meter, despite paying for time with the Parkmobile app, which became a payment option for many of the city's parking meters in 2015. Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 2019 With so much unknown about the particulars and the practicality of a season, there is no blueprint to even start talks between the league and the players. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2020 Here’s a look at the particulars for other cities:* Anniston had 30.62 inches of rain over the past three months, which is the wettest on record. Leigh Morgan, al, 1 Apr. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
Middle English particuler, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin particularis, from Latin particula small part
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Phrases Containing particular
Kids Definition
particular 1 of 2
adjective
par·tic·u·lar pər-ˈti-kyə-lər
1
: relating to one person or thing
Each city has its particular problems.
2
: not usual : special
Pay particular attention to correct spelling.
3
: having strong opinions about what is acceptable
He's very particular about food.
4
: being one of several
Which particular bike would you like?
5
: concerned about details
Our teacher is very particular.
particular
2 of 2noun
: a single fact or detail
The account was correct in every particular.
Legal Definition
particular
adjective
par·tic·u·lar
in the civil law of Louisiana : of or relating to a designated property or to the inheritance of it compare universal
particular 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in nice
hard to please she's very particular about the cleanliness of her car Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- nice
- careful
- exacting
- finicky
- finicking
- demanding
- finical
- fastidious
- selective
- critical
- picky
- delicate
- pernickety
- persnickety
- choosy
- dainty
- fussy
- fussbudgety
- meticulous
- old-maidish
- discerning
- discriminating
- choosey
- knowledgeable
- insightful
- overdemanding
- touchy
- ultrafastidious
- painstaking
- scrupulous
- hyperfastidious
- overcritical
- captious
- carping
- hypercritical
- punctilious
- caviling
- squeamish
- peevish
- faultfinding
- queasy
- prissy
- petulant
- prim
- cavilling
- prickly
- niminy-piminy
- queazy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unfastidious
- lackadaisical
- undemanding
- loose
- flexible
- relaxed
- lax
- affable
- breezy
- unfussy
- carefree
- lenient
- permissive
- indiscriminating
- uncritical
- laid-back
- low-pressure
- undiscriminating
- happy-go-lucky
- devil-may-care
2
as in personal
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person that particular mug is Mike's Synonyms & Similar Words
- personal
- subjective
- personalized
- individual
- private
- unique
- singular
- individualized
- specific
- separate
- patented
- distinctive
- peculiar
- idiomatic
- characteristic
- privy
- special
- identifying
- idiosyncratic
- intimate
- express
- specialized
- custom
- especial
- independent
- customized
- nonconformist
- self-sufficient
- self-directed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- general
- popular
- public
- universal
- generic
- prevalent
- broad
- common
- widespread
- typical
- normal
- prevailing
- shared
- regular
3
as in selective
tending to select carefully he's particular about the corn he buys Synonyms & Similar Words
- selective
- picky
- choosy
- finicking
- finicky
- nice
- discerning
- finical
- fastidious
- discriminating
- choosey
- fussy
- judicious
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indiscriminate
- nonselective
- unselective
- indiscriminating
4
as in detailed
including many small descriptive features a very particular account of the breakdown of their marriage from the husband's perspective Synonyms & Similar Words
- detailed
- full
- thorough
- specific
- particularized
- elaborate
- comprehensive
- entire
- circumstantial
- minute
- descriptive
- accurate
- specified
- complete
- graphic
- listed
- distinct
- blow-by-blow
- precise
- enumerated
- exact
- correct
- vivid
- explicit
- panoramic
- delineated
- abundant
- itemized
- copious
- graphical
- inclusive
- exhaustive
- thoroughgoing
- encyclopedic
- omnibus
- inventoried
- numerated
- exhausting
- picturesque
- in-depth
- inclusionary
- replete
- sharp
- mapped (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- summary
- short
- brief
- compendious
- compact
- concise
- general
- succinct
- pithy
- terse
- ambiguous
- crisp
- cut
- curtailed
- vague
- indeterminate
- abbreviated
- overall
- nebulous
- trimmed
- broad
- sketchy
- shortened
- abridged
- unspecified
- nondescript
- pruned
- nonspecific
- bird's-eye
particular
2 of 2noun
1
as in item
a separate part in a list, account, or series requested a bill of particulars for the care he received in the hospital Synonyms & Similar Words
- item
- thing
- detail
- stuff
- characteristic
- point
- object
- element
- component
- article
- feature
- factor
- section
- belonging
- member
- segment
- portion
- piece
- ingredient
- constituent
- division
- particle
- partition
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- whole
- compound
- aggregate
- total
- entirety
- sum
- composite
- conglomerate
- totality
- summation
2
as in fact
a single piece of information everyone wanted to know all the particulars about the forthcoming merger Synonyms & Similar Words
- fact
- detail
- specific
- article
- item
- element
- particularity
- part
- point
- aspect
- factor
- datum
- circumstance
- component
- nicety
- information
- evidence
- ingredient
- member
- constituent
- facet
- knowledge
- exhibit
- database
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- misconception
- fallacy
- error
- myth
- inaccuracy
- falsehood
- misstatement
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of particular are especial, individual, special, and specific. While all these words mean "of or relating to one thing or class," particular stresses the distinctness of something as an individual.
a ballet step of particular difficulty
While the synonyms especial and particular are close in meaning, especial may add implications of preeminence or preference.
a matter of especial importance
The words individual and particular can be used in similar contexts, but individual implies unequivocal reference to one of a class or group.
valued each individual opinion
Although the words special and particular have much in common, special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own.
special ingredients
In some situations, the words specific and particular are roughly equivalent. However, specific implies a quality or character distinguishing a kind or a species.
children with specific nutritional needs