The word specimen is often used in science, medicine, and research — but what’s its plural form? Should you say specimens or something else? This quick and simple guide explains the correct plural of specimen, its meaning, and examples to help you use it confidently.
Understanding Specimen and Plural of Specimen
What Does “Specimen” Mean?
A specimen is a sample or example that represents a larger group. It can refer to a part of something (like blood, plant, or rock) taken for study, or a single example that shows what others of its kind are like.
Definition:
👉 Specimen = a sample or example used for study or testing.
Examples:
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The doctor collected a specimen for testing.
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Each specimen was labeled and stored carefully.
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The butterfly is a rare specimen found in the Amazon.
What Is the Plural of “Specimen”?
The correct plural of specimen is specimens.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| specimen | specimens |
✅ The plural form follows regular English rules — just add -s.
There’s no special Latin form like some other words (e.g., stimulus → stimuli).
Examples:
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The lab tested several specimens of the new bacteria.
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The museum displayed rare animal specimens.
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Researchers studied hundreds of specimens from different regions.
Pronunciation Guide
| Word | IPA Pronunciation | How It Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| specimen | /ˈspes.ɪ.mən/ | “SPES-ih-muhn” |
| specimens | /ˈspes.ɪ.mənz/ | “SPES-ih-muhnz” |
Examples in Sentences
Singular: “Specimen”
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The scientist examined a blood specimen under the microscope.
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Each specimen must be stored at the correct temperature.
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The butterfly is a beautiful specimen of its species.
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A rare specimen was discovered deep in the cave.
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Please label each specimen clearly before sending it to the lab.
Plural: “Specimens”
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The biologist collected several specimens from the forest.
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These specimens will be tested for infection.
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The museum has over 500 preserved specimens.
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All specimens were organized according to species.
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The study compared specimens from different climates.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with specimen or specimens.
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The lab received several ______ for analysis.
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Each ______ was carefully labeled.
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The doctor examined a blood ______.
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The museum keeps old insect ______ in glass cases.
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The scientist discovered a new plant ______.
Answer:
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specimens
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specimen
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specimen
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specimens
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specimen
Exercise 2: Choose the correct sentence.
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a) The biologist studied rare specimens. ✅
b) The biologist studied rare specimenes. -
a) The specimen was kept in a sealed container. ✅
b) The specimens was kept in a sealed container. -
a) These specimens come from different countries. ✅
b) These specimen come from different countries. -
a) Each specimen represents a different species. ✅
b) Each specimens represents a different species. -
a) Scientists compared all collected specimens. ✅
b) Scientists compared all collected specimenes.