Specified means clearly stated, identified, or defined in detail. When something is specified, it's not vague or left to guesswork. Someone has spelled out exactly what they mean.

If your teacher says “write an essay on any topic,” that's open-ended. But if she says “write a 500-word essay about Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, due next Friday,” she has specified the requirements. The length, topic, and deadline are all clearly stated.

In recipes, ingredients are usually specified: “add two cups of flour” tells you the exact amount. If instructions just said “add some flour,” you'd have to guess, and your cake might turn out wrong.

When a doctor writes a prescription, she specifies which medicine, what dose, and how often to take it. When you order something online, you specify the size, color, and quantity. Architects specify which materials to use when building a house.

Notice that specifying details helps prevent confusion and mistakes. When expectations are clearly specified, everyone knows what's needed. When they're not specified, people might make different assumptions and end up disappointed or frustrated.