Specimen vs. Sample — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 17, 2023
Specimen is an individual example from a category; Sample is representative portion of a larger whole.
Difference Between Specimen and Sample
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A specimen typically refers to an individual element, often used for the scientific study, that represents a class or whole; it's often unique and held for reference. A sample, however, represents a group or population and is a subset of it, meant to infer information about the larger group.
In medical terminology, a specimen is often a single instance of a substance, tissue, or organism for examination — like a blood specimen. Conversely, a sample refers to a portion of something larger used for testing; it could be a blood sample, but this represents part of a larger volume.
Specimen in a non-scientific context often refers to an individual observation or representative for educational or demonstrative purposes, such as a specimen in a museum. A sample is typically something distributed freely to represent a product or service, like food samples at a grocery store.
In collection settings, a specimen might be a singular item, like a specimen of currency in numismatics, that is kept pristine and unaltered. A sample, on the other hand, is often used and consumed during testing or demonstration processes, like a paint sample.
The term specimen is commonly used when the individual item is of particular importance or interest, like a rare specimen of a plant species. Sample implies routine collection or distribution for broader analysis or consumer testing, not emphasizing uniqueness.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Single, representative unit
Part of a larger whole
Use
Analysis or demonstration
Testing or promotional use
Context
Often unique or rare
Common or routine
Representation
Stands for a whole category
Infers about a larger group
Consumption
Typically preserved
Often used or consumed
Compare with Definitions
Specimen
A single unit used for scientific examination.
The lab received a specimen for testing.
Sample
A segment that reflects a greater whole.
The scientist took a water sample for testing.
Specimen
Something used to illustrate or explain.
The teacher used a plant specimen to explain the lesson.
Sample
A trial portion of a product.
They were handing out perfume samples at the mall.
Specimen
An item kept for interest or value.
He added a unique specimen to his stamp collection.
Sample
A small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like
Investigations involved analysing samples of handwriting
Specimen
An individual instance representative of a group.
The museum displayed a specimen of the rare mineral.
Sample
A portion, piece, or segment that is representative of a whole
Showed samples of a new stretch fabric.
Specimen
An individual, item, or part representative of a class or whole.
Sample
A sound or piece of music created by sampling
Piano samples
Specimen
An organism, part of an organism, or fossil that has been collected and usually preserved, especially for display or scientific research.
Sample
Take a sample or samples of (something) for analysis
Bone marrow cells were sampled
Specimen
A sample, as of tissue, blood, or urine, used for analysis and diagnosis.
Sample
Ascertain the momentary value of (an analogue signal) many times a second so as to convert the signal to digital form
The input signal must be sampled at twice its highest frequency
Specimen
(Informal) An individual; a person
A disagreeable specimen.
Sample
A specimen taken for analysis or testing
A blood sample.
A water sample.
Specimen
An individual instance that represents a class; an example.
Early specimens of the art of Picasso
Sample
(Statistics) A set of data or elements drawn from a larger population and analyzed to estimate the characteristics of that population. Also called sampling.
Specimen
(numismatics) A banknote printed for distribution to central banks to aid in the recognition of banknotes from a country other than their own
Sample
A usually digitized audio segment taken from an original recording and inserted, often repetitively, in a new recording.
Specimen
(philately) A postage stamp sent to postmasters and postal administrations so that they are able to identify valid stamps and to avoid forgeries
Sample
One of a series of pieces of data representing a digitized approximation of an analog signal.
Specimen
A sample, especially one used for diagnostic analysis.
Sample
To take a sample of, especially to test or examine by a sample
The restaurant critic who must sample a little of everything.
Specimen
An eligible man.
Sample
To use or incorporate (an audio segment of an original recording) in a new recording
A song that samples the bassline of a 1970s disco tune.
Specimen
A part, or small portion, of anything, or one of a number of things, intended to exhibit the kind and quality of the whole, or of what is not exhibited; a sample; as, a specimen of a man's handwriting; a specimen of a person's blood; a specimen of painting; aspecimen of one's art.
Sample
To represent the value of (an analog signal) at a particular point in time by means of a piece of digital data.
Specimen
An example regarded as typical of its class
Sample
Serving as a representative or example
Sample test questions.
A sample piece of fabric.
Specimen
A bit of tissue or blood or urine that is taken for diagnostic purposes;
They collected a urine specimen for urinalysis
Sample
A part or snippet of something taken or presented for inspection, or shown as evidence of the quality of the whole; a specimen.
A blood sample
Specimen
A model or prototype of a product.
They examined the specimen of the new coin design.
Sample
(statistics) A subset of a population selected for measurement, observation or questioning, to provide statistical information about the population.
Large samples are generally more reliable than small samples due to having less variability.
Sample
(cooking) A small quantity of food for tasting, typically given away for free.
Sample
(business) A small piece of some goods, for determining quality, colour, etc., typically given away for free.
Sample
(music) Gratuitous borrowing of easily recognised phases (or moments) from other music (or movies) in a recording.
Sample
(obsolete) Example; pattern.
Sample
(transitive) To take or to test a sample or samples of.
Sample
To reduce a continuous signal (such as a sound wave) to a discrete signal.
Sample
To reuse a portion of (an existing sound recording) in a new piece of music.
Sample
To make or show something similar to a sample.
Sample
Example; pattern.
Thus he concludes, and every hardy knightHis sample followed.
Sample
A part of anything presented for inspection, or shown as evidence of the quality of the whole; a specimen; as, goods are often purchased by samples.
I design this but for a sample of what I hope more fully to discuss.
Sample
To make or show something similar to; to match.
Sample
To take or to test a sample or samples of; as, to sample sugar, teas, wools, cloths.
Sample
A small part of something intended as representative of the whole
Sample
Items selected at random from a population and used to test hypotheses about the population
Sample
All or part of a natural object that is collected and preserved as an example of its class
Sample
Take a sample of;
Try these new crackers
Sample the regional dishes
Sample
A small part of something larger.
She tried a sample of the cheese.
Sample
A fractional part of a statistical population.
The survey results were based on a random sample of people.
Sample
Matter used for scientific testing or analysis.
The lab requires a blood sample for the experiment.
Common Curiosities
What is a specimen?
A specimen is an individual example of something, often used for scientific or educational purposes.
How large is a sample?
Sample size can vary and depends on what it's meant to represent.
Can a specimen be living?
Yes, specimens can be living organisms, especially in biology.
Are free product trials samples?
Yes, they're often called promotional samples.
Can a specimen be man-made?
Yes, it can be any example of a category, natural or man-made.
What's a random sample?
A subset chosen randomly from a population, where each has an equal chance of selection.
Can I collect samples for personal research?
Yes, if you follow legal and ethical guidelines.
What's a convenience sample?
It's a sample chosen for ease of availability, not randomness.
Can a sample represent an entire population?
Yes, if it's statistically representative.
Are digital copies considered specimens?
Typically, no. Specimens are usually tangible or physical items.
Is a specimen always unique?
Not always, but it's often a notable example of its kind.
Why are specimens important in science?
They provide a tangible basis for study and research.
Do specimens only refer to animals or plants?
No, they can refer to any example of a category, living or inanimate.
What's a biased sample?
It's a non-random sample that doesn't accurately represent the entire population.
Are all specimens kept in museums?
Many are, but specimens can be stored or displayed anywhere appropriate.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
