specialty

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun A special pursuit, occupation, aptitude, or skill.
• noun A branch of medicine or surgery, such as cardiology or neurosurgery, in which a physician specializes; the field or practice of a specialist.
• noun An item or product of a distinctive kind or of particular superiority.
• noun Law A contract or agreement that creates a greater obligation than an ordinary contract or agreement because it is executed under seal.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun The fact or condition of being special or particular; particularity of origin, cause, use, significance, etc.
• noun The special or distinctive nature of anything; essence; principle; groundwork.
• noun A special quality or characteristic; a distinguishing feature; a speciality. See speciality, 1.
• noun A special or particular matter or thing; something specific or exceptional in character, relation, use, or the like.
• noun A special employment or pursuit; a distinct occupation or division of duty or interest; that which one does especially, either by choice or by assignment.
• noun A special product or manufacture; something made in a special manner or form, or especially characteristic of the producer or of the place of production: as, a dealer in specialties; also, an article to which a dealer professes to pay special attention or care, or which is alleged to possess special advantages in regard to quality, quantity, or price: as, fountain-pens a specialty. See the second quotation under speciality, 2.
• noun In law, an instrument under seal, containing an express or implied agreement for the payment of money.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun Particularity.
• noun obsolete A particular or peculiar case.
• noun (Law) A contract or obligation under seal; a contract by deed; a writing, under seal, given as security for a debt particularly specified.
• noun That for which a person is distinguished, in which he is specially versed, or which he makes an object of special attention; a speciality.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun North America That in which one specializes; a chosen expertise or talent.
• noun obsolete particularity
• noun A particular or peculiar case.
• noun law A contract or obligation under seal; a contract by deed; a writing, under seal, given as security for a debt particularly specified.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun the special line of work you have adopted as your career
• noun an asset of special worth or utility
• noun a distinguishing trait