Skip to main content
special

special

1.0
Made for a particular person, purpose, or occasion
  • adjective
  • /ˈspɛʃəl/
translation icon : 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

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
particular
vsspecial
3.2

Specific and not general

is wider, meaning different or made for someone or an event
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
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
different
vsspecial
913 2.0

Not usual and not like what people expect

often implies being intended for a person or event rather than only being odd
rare
vsspecial
213 4.1

Very unusual and special, not often seen

focuses more on being different or made for a use than on high quality
custom
vsspecial
138 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
122 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
104 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
48 4.1

Not usual and different from what people expect

adds the idea of being made or meant for a person or event
singular
vsspecial
34 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
exceptional
vsspecial
  • Specialized
27 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
individualized
vsspecial
14 4.1

Made for one person's needs or likes

may mean different or made for a purpose rather than only made for someone
custom-made
vsspecial
14 3.8

Made for one person to match their needs

also covers items or occasions that are different without being made to order
personalized
vsspecial
  • US
1 4.1

Made for one person to fit their needs

can also mean simply different or made for a particular event not one person

Antonyms

797 1.0

Happening often or seen in many places

675 2.7

Generally used and accepted as correct

Idioms

Ordinary and not very interesting

Compounds

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

special effect
  • Specialized
67 3.7

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

59 3.4

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

37 3.5

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

special education
  • Specialized
24 3.5

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

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

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

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

An international sports event for people with intellectual or physical disabilities

special award
  • Formal
4 2.9

Official recognition given for important achievements or contributions

4 6.6

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

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

A small extra detail that makes something feel nicer

special relativity
  • Specialized
2 7.1

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

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

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

1 3.5

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

Special K
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A drug called ketamine used illegally to get high

1 6.1

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

1 7.0

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

1 7.7

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

special act
  • Formal
1 8.3

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

1 9.0

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

special jury
  • Archaic
1 7.7

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

An argument that ignores bad evidence to seem true

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

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

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

8.1

A cheaper apartment with few repairs or updates

A house sold cheaply because it needs a lot of repair

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

A planned military action with clear goals that is often secret

An employer gives extra money to employees who have extra duties

9.1

A legal document that adds new facts to answer an accusation

8.8

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

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

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

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

7.3

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

Believing you are unique and should get extra attention from others

How Specific

unique
3 3.5
tailored
1 3.7
special
1.0
different
913 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.