noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈspɛsɪmɪn/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S P EH1 S AH0 M AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An individual instance that represents a class; an example.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
early specimens of the art of Picasso
a specimen of my own handwriting
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An individual instance that represents a class; an example.
A banknote printed for distribution to central banks to aid in the recognition of banknotes from a country other than their own
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, numismatics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An individual instance that represents a class; an example.
A postage stamp sent to postmasters and postal administrations so that they are able to identify valid stamps and to avoid forgeries
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, philately
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
An individual instance that represents a class; an example.
An unpleasant or contemptible person.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: derogatory
Examples
such a loathsome specimen of humanity
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A sample, especially one used for diagnostic analysis.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
An eligible man.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: humorous
Qualifier: often preceded with “fine”
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
a bit of tissue or blood or urine that is taken for diagnostic purposes
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
they collected a urine specimen for urinalysis
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: sample
Narrower terms: cytologic specimen
8
noun
Meaning 8
an example regarded as typical of its class
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: example, illustration, instance, representative
History
Etymology
From Latin specimen (“mark, sign, example”), from speciō (“observe, watch”).
Across languages
Translations
66 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Antigua and Barbuda Creole English:
kodenguu
— example
Armenian:
օրինակ
(ōrinak)
— example
Armenian:
նմուշ
(nmuš)
— example
Azerbaijani:
nümunə
— example
Bulgarian:
образец
(obrazec)
— example
Catalan:
espècimen
— example
Chinese Mandarin:
樣本 /样本
(yàngběn)
— example
Czech:
ukázka
— example
Czech:
exemplář
— example
Danish:
eksemplar
— example
Dutch:
voorbeeld
— example
Finnish:
esimerkki
— example
French:
spécimen
— example
French:
exemple
— example
German:
Exemplar
— example
German:
Muster
— example
Greek:
δείγμα
(deígma)
— example
Hungarian:
példány
— example
Icelandic:
sýnataka
— example
Italian:
esemplare
— example
Japanese:
見本
(mihon)
— example
Korean:
표본
(pyobon)
— example
Latin:
specimen
— example
Polish:
przykład
— example
Polish:
okaz
— example
Polish:
osobnik
— example
Portuguese:
espécime
— example
Portuguese:
exemplar
— example
Romanian:
specimen
— example
Romanian:
exemplar
— example
Russian:
образе́ц
(obrazéc)
— example
Russian:
экземпля́р
(ekzɛmpljár)
— example
Scottish Gaelic:
sampall
— example
Spanish:
espécimen
— example
Swedish:
exemplar
— example
Azerbaijani:
nümunə
— sample
Bhojpuri:
नमूना
(namūnā)
— sample
Bulgarian:
проба
(proba)
— sample
Chinese Mandarin:
標本 /标本
(biāoběn)
— sample
Czech:
vzorek
— sample
Dutch:
specimen
— sample
Finnish:
näyte
— sample
Finnish:
näytepala
— sample
French:
exemple
— sample
German:
Spezimen
— sample
German:
Probe
— sample
Greek:
δείγμα
(deígma)
— sample
Hungarian:
minta
— sample
Ido:
specimeno
— sample
Indonesian:
spesimen
— sample
Italian:
campione
— sample
Japanese:
標本
(hyōhon)
— sample
Korean:
표본
(pyobon)
— sample
Māori:
pota
— sample
Plautdietsch:
Proow
— sample
Polish:
próbka
— sample
Portuguese:
exemplar
— sample
Portuguese:
amostra
— sample
Russian:
препара́т
(preparát)
— sample
Russian:
про́ба
(próba)
— sample
Scottish Gaelic:
sampall
— sample
Spanish:
ejemplar
— sample
Swedish:
specimen
— sample
Vietnamese:
mẫu vật
— sample
Italian:
esemplare
— jocular: an eligible man
Russian:
экземпля́р
(ekzempljár)
— jocular: an eligible man