specified

Specified is the past tense and past participle of the verb specify. As an adjective, it means defined, identified, or laid out in advance by a specification, contract, or set of instructions. In this sense, something that is specified has been explicitly named or described.

In practical use, specified appears in legal, engineering, software, and technical writing. Examples include phrases like the specified temperature range, the specified materials, or the items specified in Appendix A. It signals that a requirement or parameter is not optional but must be followed as defined by a controlling document or standard.

Etymology traces specified to the Latin word specificus, meaning "of a kind, particular," from species, meaning "appearance, kind." The term entered English through Latin and early modern usage to denote setting out precise details. Over time, it has become a common term in formal writing to indicate conformity to a defined set of requirements.

Related terms include specification (the document or statement that defines requirements), specify (the verb to define precisely), and unspecified (not yet defined or not stated). In technical and contractual contexts, the distinction between specified and unspecified values helps ensure clarity, verification, and compliance with standards. Accurate use of specified helps prevent ambiguity and supports precise communication about requirements and expectations.