Particular is a versatileable to be used in many different ways or for many purposes word with several distinctclearly different from others; easy to tell apart meanings. It can describe someone who is hard to please, something that is especially important or specific, or a small separate part of something. The nouna word that names a person, place, thing, or idea form can also refer to a specific item or fact.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /pər-TIK-yə-lər/

Easy pronunciation: per-TIK-yuh-ler (approximate spelling).

Stress: Stress is on the second syllable: TIK.

Adjective meaning hard to please and careful about details.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Particular Meaning

hard to please and careful about details

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: exacting especially about details

Example: She’s very particular about how her coffee is made.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• finicky — A strong match for someone overly careful or hard to satisfy about details.
• fussy — A natural everyday synonym when someone is difficult to satisfy about details.
• picky — Common informal substitute for someone selective or hard to please.
• finical — A real synonym, but less common in modern everyday English.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Particular

Meaning 2

a single small part or item

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a small part that can be considered separately from the whole

Example: He noted every particular of the agreement.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• detail — Works well when particular means a small separate point or item.
• item — Can fit when referring to one separate thing from a larger whole.

Meaning 3

especially important or special

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: first and most important

Example: This project has particular importance for the team.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• special — A good substitute when particular means especially important or singled out.

Meaning 4

a statement about some members of a group, not all

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a proposition that asserts something about some (but not all) members of a class

Example: In logic, a particular is a statement about some members of a class.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• particular proposition — This is the technical term for this logic sense.

Meaning 5

unusually good, important, or notable

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: surpassing what is common or usual or expected

Example: It was a matter of particular importance to the whole staff.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• especial — Possible in this older or formal sense, but uncommon in modern usage.
• exceptional — Works when the meaning is unusually good or unusual.
• special — Often fits when something stands out from the ordinary.

Meaning 6

belonging to one specific person or thing

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: unique or specific to a person or thing or category

Example: The job has particular demands.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• peculiar — Can fit the sense of belonging especially to one thing, though it may sound odd or imply strangeness in some contexts.
• special — Works when something applies especially to one person or thing.

Meaning 7

a specific fact or point

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a fact about some part (as opposed to general)

Example: He moved from the particular to the general.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• specific — A good synonym for a concrete fact or point rather than a general one.

Meaning 8

giving exact details

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: providing specific details or circumstances

Example: The report gives a particular description of the room.

Meaning 9

one specific person or thing, not others

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: separate and distinct from others of the same group or category

Example: She had one particular artist in mind.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Particular Synonyms

Similar Meaning

• finicky
• fussy
• picky

a small part that can be considered separately from the whole

• detail
• item

first and most important

• special

a proposition in logic about some but not all members of a class

• particular proposition

surpassing what is common or usual or expected

• especial
• exceptional
• special

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

• peculiar
• special

a fact about some part rather than a general statement

• specific

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

• Do not use particular as a direct synonym of general in every context; it can also mean specific, special, or hard to please depending on the sense.
• The adjective particular can mean ‘specific’ or ‘especially important,’ which is different from the noun particular meaning a separate fact or item.
• Picky, fussy, and finicky fit the ‘hard to please’ sense, but they do not fit the ‘specific’ or ‘important’ senses.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common meaning of particular?

The most common everyday meaning is ‘hard to please and careful about details,’ as in someone who is particular about cleanliness or food.

What are the best synonyms for particular?

It depends on the sense. For the ‘hard to please’ meaning, good synonyms are picky, fussy, and finicky. For the ‘specific’ meaning, special or specific may work better.

Is particular the same as specific?

Sometimes. In some contexts, particular means ‘specific’ or ‘one certain thing,’ but it can also mean ‘hard to please’ or ‘especially important.’

Is particular formal or informal?

It is a normal everyday word. Some senses, like the logic use, are technical or formal.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.