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
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 incident
bill 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
Examples of particular in a Sentence
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
Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
One particular viral trend that the app can’t seem to shake?
—Ashia Aubourg, Outside Online, 8 Nov. 2024
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
Not a god, not more particular than all particulars,
but I get lost in simple repetitions
and forget to speak
with my whole heart.
—Laura Kolbe, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for particular 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
The board says the standard has driven major changes in the state’s fuel market — in particular, the rapid adoption of renewable diesel made from vegetable oil.
—Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
One particular viral trend that the app can’t seem to shake?
—Ashia Aubourg, Outside Online, 8 Nov. 2024
Noun
Powell threw a spotlight on not just the particulars of rez ball — a faster, more intense version of the game played on reservations in the Southwest — but also the hardships facing the players, whose families coped with unemployment, domestic violence, alcoholism, and suicidal ideation.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
Not a god, not more particular than all particulars,
but I get lost in simple repetitions
and forget to speak
with my whole heart.
—Laura Kolbe, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for particular
Dictionary Entries Near particular
Cite this Entry
“Particular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/particular. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
particular
1 of 2 adjective
par·tic·u·lar
pə(r)-ˈtik-(y)ə-lər
-ˈtik-lər
1
: of or relating to the separate parts of a whole
each particular item on the list
2
: of or relating to a single person or thing
my particular skills
3
: very unusual : special
a storm of particular violence
4
: hard to please : fastidious
particular about their clothes
particular
2 of 2 noun
: an individual fact, detail, or item
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