example vs specimen

example and specimen both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
example	Yes	No	No	No
specimen	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, specimen is a hyponym of example; that is, specimen is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than example:

Other hyponyms of example include apology, excuse, exception, case in point, precedent, quintessence, sample.

example (noun)	specimen (noun)
a task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding	a bit of tissue or blood or urine that is taken for diagnostic purposes
an item of information that is typical of a class or group	an example regarded as typical of its class
something to be imitated
a representative form or pattern
punishment intended as a warning to others
an occurrence of something