particular
/pəˈtɪkjələ/
When used to describe a person's temperament, the term suggests a level of precision that often borders on the obsessive. It implies a rigid set of standards where only a specific arrangement or quality is acceptable, often creating tension in social or professional collaborations. In a descriptive sense, the word functions to isolate one specific item from a larger group. It moves the focus from the general to the precise, acting as a linguistic pointer that narrows the scope of a conversation to a single, identifiable detail.
💬Casual Conversation
Your mother is being way too particular about the guest list.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE RIGHT PEOPLE COME DEAR
Meanings
Examples
I am not being particular, I just hate cilantro!
He is so particular about his desk layout.
Is there a particular reason you are late again?
You are way too particular about the font size!
I have no particular preference for the hotel.
Look, I'm just particular about who touches my tools.
Are you looking for a particular brand of wine?
She is incredibly particular about her morning routine.
Wait, did you mean this particular folder or that one?
Stop being so particular and just pick a movie!
Collocations & Compounds
particular attention
special focus on a detail
Please pay particular attention to the safety warnings.
particular detail
a specific piece of information
He described the scene in particular detail.
particular taste
a very specific preference
She has a particular taste in mid-century furniture.
particular instance
a specific occurrence
In this particular instance, the rule does not apply.
be particular about
to be fastidious regarding something
My boss is very particular about punctuation.