Precise vs Specific

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Precise

Top 2,000 (common) B2 adjective

Specific

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 adjective

Most common: Specific

	Precise	Specific
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/prɪˈsaɪs/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/prɪˈsaɪs/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/spəˈsɪfɪk/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/spəˈsɪfɪk/"]/
Meaning	Exact and clear without mistakes.	clearly defined or identified
Example	The scientist provided a precise measurement of the chemical reaction.	I need a specific example to understand this concept better.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B2	A2
Part of speech	adjective	adjective
Collocations	be, become, make something, extremely, incredibly, infinitely, about, in, be, become, make something, extremely, incredibly, infinitely, about, in	be, fairly, rather, very, about, to, be, fairly, rather, very, about, to, be, fairly, rather, very, about, to
Antonyms	imprecise, vague, general	general, vague, ambiguous
Common mistakes	Using 'precise' when 'exact' is more suitable., Confusing 'precise' with 'specific'., Saying 'more precise' instead of 'more precise than'.	Confused with 'pacific' (the ocean) due to similar pronunciation., Using 'specific' when 'general' is meant., Misplaced modifier: saying 'specific things' instead of 'specific detail'.
Usage notes	Use 'precise' when you want to describe something that is very accurate or detailed. It is appropriate in both everyday and formal contexts, but avoid using it when describing vague or approximate situations.	Use 'specific' when you want to describe something clearly and in detail. It's neutral, appropriate in both casual and professional contexts. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations where simpler terms might be more appropriate.

See it in real clips

Well, we'd need you there to tailor compounds specific to our needs.

Breaking Bad › S1 E4

I can tell you that the specific course

Agent Carter › S1 E1

Could you be slightly more specific?

Well, we'd need you there to tailor compounds specific to our needs.

Breaking Bad › S1 E4

I can tell you that the specific course

Specific

Frequently asked questions: Precise vs Specific

What's the difference between Precise and Specific?

Precise: Exact and clear without mistakes. Specific: clearly defined or identified

Which is more common: Precise and Specific?

Specific is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Precise and Specific?

Precise is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Precise and Specific the same CEFR level?

Precise: B2, Specific: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Precise and Specific?

Precise: adjective, Specific: adjective.

Can you show an example of each?

Precise: The scientist provided a precise measurement of the chemical reaction. Specific: I need a specific example to understand this concept better.

Can I use Precise and Specific interchangeably?

Not always. Precise and Specific are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.