The difference between Respective and Specific
When used as adjectives, respective means relating to particular persons or things, each to each, whereas specific means explicit or definite.
Specific is also noun with the meaning: a distinguishing attribute or quality.
check bellow for the other definitions of Respective and Specific
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Respective as an adjective:
Relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own.
Examples:
"They returned to their respective places of abode."
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Respective as an adjective (obsolete):
Noticing with attention; careful; wary.
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Respective as an adjective (obsolete):
Looking toward; having reference to; relative, not absolute.
Examples:
"the respective connections of society"
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Respective as an adjective (obsolete):
Fitted to awaken respect.
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Respective as an adjective (obsolete):
Rendering respect; respectful; regardful.
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Specific as an adjective:
explicit or definite
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Specific as an adjective (sciences):
Pertaining to a species.
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Specific as an adjective (taxonomy):
pertaining to a taxon at the rank of species
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Specific as an adjective:
special, distinctive or unique
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Specific as an adjective:
intended for, or applying to, a particular thing
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Specific as an adjective:
being a remedy for a particular disease
Examples:
"Quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria."
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Specific as an adjective (immunology):
limited to a particular antibody or antigen
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Specific as an adjective (physics):
of a value divided by mass (e.g. specific orbital energy)
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Specific as an adjective (physics):
similarly referring to a value divided by any measure which acts to standardize it (e.g. thrust specific fuel consumption, referring to fuel consumption divided by thrust)
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Specific as an adjective (physics):
a measure compared with a standard reference value by division, to produce a ratio without unit or dimension (e.g. specific refractive index is a pure number, and is relative to that of air)
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Specific as a noun:
A distinguishing attribute or quality.
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Specific as a noun:
A remedy for a specific disease or condition.
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Specific as a noun:
Specification
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Specific as a noun (in the plural):
The details; particulars.