Skip to main content
special

special

∞ 1.0
Made for a particular person, purpose, or occasion
  • adjective
  • /ˈspɛʃəl/
: especial
  • Today I have for you a very special birthday book on haul.
  • special education
  • special needs
  • special edition

And you know, it's a special feeling it.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • At the end, the winner receives a special gift of light.

  • Here she is our special guest, my mother.

  • I believe that was for a special purpose from God.

  • But first, we have a very special story to start the show.

  • Now I have something very special for you.

  • This is his special room.

  • This dish is eaten on special occasions in Iran.

  • And then we've got this special liquid smoke sauce.

  • And it requires special creams and special hair dryers.

  • The restaurant has a special menu for Valentine's Day with unique dishes.

Synonyms

particular
vsspecial
∞ 3.2

Specific and not general

is wider, meaning different or made for someone or an event
specific
vsspecial
∞ 3.9

Clearly defined and exact for a particular thing or person

is broader, meaning different or made for a purpose not only precision
unique
vsspecial
∞ 3.5

The only one of its kind

is broader, covering things made for a person or purpose as well as one of a kind
unusual
vsspecial
∞ 2.2

Not common and different from what people expect

can be different because it was made for a purpose or person not only rare
different
vsspecial
575 2.0

Not usual and not like what people expect

often implies being intended for a person or event rather than only being odd
custom
vsspecial
208 4.4

Made or done to fit one person's needs

can mean simply different or intended for a given purpose not only made to order
uncommon
vsspecial
126 4.6

Not often found or seen and so rare

can mean chosen or made for a reason rather than just being different
distinctive
vsspecial
106 3.9

Has a clear look or sound that makes it different from others

is about being different or meant for a purpose rather than only having a feature
rare
vsspecial
69 4.1

Very unusual and special, not often seen

focuses more on being different or made for a use than on high quality
68 4.1

Not usual and different from what people expect

adds the idea of being made or meant for a person or event
personalized
vsspecial
  • US
51 4.1

Made for one person to fit their needs

can also mean simply different or made for a particular event not one person
singular
vsspecial
48 5.6

The only one of its kind

can also mean made or intended for a purpose or person not only one of a kind
custom-made
vsspecial
31 3.8

Made for one person to match their needs

also covers items or occasions that are different without being made to order
individualized
vsspecial
16 4.1

Made for one person's needs or likes

may mean different or made for a purpose rather than only made for someone
exceptional
vsspecial
  • Specialized
4 4.8

A child whose thinking or physical ability is much different from most children

is less about ability and more about being different or intended for a use

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Happening often or seen in many places

673 2.7

Generally used and accepted as correct

Idioms

Ordinary and not very interesting

Compounds

186 3.5

A person allowed by law to do one specific task they are told to do

128 3.4

A very well trained military group that carries out secret or dangerous missions

A group or organization that tries to influence government decisions to help its own members

special effect
  • Specialized
74 3.7

An image or sound used in film to show something that cannot be done in real life

special education
  • Specialized
29 3.5

Teaching and support in school for students with physical, mental, or learning difficulties who need extra help

A service that delivers mail faster than usual for an extra fee

A meeting held in addition to regular meetings to deal with urgent or important matters

A group that tries to influence government decisions often by talking to politicians

An international sports event for people with intellectual or physical disabilities

special award
  • Formal
6 2.9

Official recognition given for important achievements or contributions

special relativity
  • Specialized
4 7.1

A theory that says physics works the same for all objects moving at constant speed and light speed is constant

A small extra detail that makes something feel nicer

4 6.6

A part of the police that deals with the country's safety and political crimes like terrorism or spying

An argument that ignores bad evidence to seem true

3 3.5

A small group inside an organization that works on a specific topic or project, not for politics

special jury
  • Archaic
2 7.7

A group of people chosen for their special knowledge to decide a legal case

A small, highly trained group of British soldiers who do secret, dangerous missions

A small, cheap gun often used in crimes

1 7.4

An extra tax on private property that pays for local public work like new sidewalks

1 6.1

A scientific idea that space and time change with speed and that light has the same speed for all observers

A group of people who try to influence government decisions about one issue

1 7.0

A part of the navy that carries out secret, dangerous missions at sea and on land

special act
  • Formal
1 8.3

A law made to help one person, group, or place instead of everyone

A 1905 Einstein theory saying time and space change because light's speed is always the same

1 9.0

Extra international money from the IMF to help countries build foreign currency reserves and keep their exchange rates stable

Special K
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A drug called ketamine used illegally to get high

A group in the United States Army trained to do secret and dangerous missions

1 7.7

A military court that tries soldiers for less serious crimes, usually with three officers

1 6.8

A formal agreement signed and sealed by the people involved, often with a wax seal

1 8.8

A jury statement about specific facts that the judge uses to decide the case

A house sold cheaply because it needs a lot of repair

1 9.8

Believing you are unique and should get extra attention from others

A police unit trained to handle violent situations like hostage crises and armed standoffs

1 7.3

A physics idea that light moves at the same speed and time and space change for moving people

A group of police officers with special training and weapons who handle very dangerous situations like armed suspects or hostages

A planned military action with clear goals that is often secret

Highly trained soldiers who do secret, dangerous missions for the United States Army

8.1

A cheaper apartment with few repairs or updates

An employer gives extra money to employees who have extra duties

9.1

A legal document that adds new facts to answer an accusation

A temporary team of experts from different parts of a company who solve an urgent problem quickly

How Specific

unique
1 3.5
tailored
1 3.7
special
∞ 1.0
different
575 2.0
general
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

special positive
specialer comparative
specialest superlative

Etymology

Special comes from an old Latin word specialis, related to species, which means 'kind' or 'type'. So a special chair is a 'particular kind' made for a certain person or purpose.