particular

Particular is an adjective used to describe something that is specific or distinct, as opposed to general or universal. It denotes a single item or a subset within a larger category. The term can also function as a noun in its plural form, the particulars, meaning the details or specific facts of a subject or case.

Etymology and usage: from Latin particulus, meaning 'a part', via Old French. In modern English, particular often signals emphasis on a definite item or aspect within a broader class.

In philosophy, the term is used to distinguish individual entities from universal concepts. A particular is an instance that exists in space and time, whereas universals are properties or types that may be shared by many particulars. Debates about the relationship between particulars and universals frame discussions of ontology, realism, and nominalism.

In mathematics and related disciplines, particular often contrasts with general. A particular solution satisfies given conditions or initial values, while the general solution describes all possible solutions. The term also appears when identifying a specific instance within a model, data set, or experimental result.

In law and everyday language, particulars refer to specific facts, details, or items to be considered, as in the phrase the particulars of the claim. The word can also indicate a preference or emphasis on a particular matter, as in 'I have no particular reason to go.'