Meanings
comparative more special · comparative specialer · superlative most special · superlative specialest
- Distinguished by a unique, particular, or unusual quality.
her special blend of spices
2 more examples
a special episode of a television series
EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL An empty and meaningless sentiment. What about every adult? Isn't every adult special? And if not, then at what age does a person go from being special to being not-so-special? And if every adult is also special, then that means all people are special and the idea has no meaning.
2004, George Carlin, “PLEASE DON'T SAY THAT”, in When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, →OL, page 132 - lawAppointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.
After the Watergate break in, a special prosecutor was appointed.
1 more example
For the few times the U.S. Supreme Court has to actually try a case, they will appoint a special master to do so.
- euphemisticnot comparableOf or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.
He goes to a special school.
1 more example
special education, special needs
- broadlycomparablederogatoryeuphemisticnot comparableoffensiveoftenStupid, lacking intelligence.
What do you mean, you don't understand the sign? What are you, special?
- euphemisticnot comparableOf, being, or pertaining to sexual intercourse or the genitals.
The girl said the man had tried to touch her special place.
1 more example
The parents told the kids not to bother them during special time.
- euphemisticnot comparableInfused with a drug, especially marijuana; being an edible.
This book will help you to […] • Cook with the confidence that the neighbors won't find out your brownies are 'special' • Never again worry about getting caught growing because someone smelled your garden
2012 November 1, Klyde, How To Hide The Smell Of Weed, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 93 more examples
Then with the rest of the money I use it to pay for the building, maintenance, utilities, up keep, and the special brownies! In addition, I have bongs that the parishioners can use if they forget to bring their own bongs for smoking.
2020 March 19, I. D. Oro, Mexico Wall 130, I. D. Oro, page 136“Jen, when someone offers you 'special' brownies or 'funny' brownies, they have pot in them. You're totally high right now.” Me, high? No way! No one ever offered the nerdy girl drugs. And I'd never, ever accept them.
2021 June 15, Laura Heffernan, Sweet Reality, Empress Books“They're special brownies,” said Rosie. Special brownies! Of course they were special! They were perfect and delicious! What a great word to describe them! Rosie caught on that Lulu had not caught on. “Special brownies. Happy brownies. […] They're the ones that have weed in them.”
2021 September 23, Gillian A. Corsiatto, Duck Light, FriesenPress, →ISBN, page 5
plural specials
- A meal offered only at a certain time by a restaurant, not as a standing fixture of the menu; often, one of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price; also often a dish at a nondiscounted price that is seasonal or otherwise exciting or unusual.
The Tuesday lunch special is our tuna melt on rye.
1 more example
Today's dinner special is wild salmon, which we don't normally get a chance to offer.
- UKcolloquialA special constable.
And you can't trust a "Special" like the old-time copper when you can't find your way home.
1919, Fred W. Leigh, Charles Collins, “My Old Man”performed by Marie Lloyd - Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.
Thousands came to see the special that carried the President's coffin.
- Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.
- pinballAn award, typically a free game, that is made available to the player upon reaching or completing a major objective in a pinball game.
- journalismA journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.
- journalismA dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.
- entertainmentA light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.
In addition to followspots, there will be three frontlight specials on Autoyokes hung on the truss to provide frontlight specials.
2009, Steven Shelley, A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, page 1321 more example
The first is a special—a single lighting instrument that lights a particular spot on the stage. Specials generally have no color, or a more saturated color, allowing them to stand out through other lighting onstage.
2009, Jennifer Bringle, Lighting, page 23 - One of certain mixed-breed dogs.
Singapore Special; Darwin special
- A racehorse predicted to win; a sure thing.
"How's your horse going to go Fatty?" My replies included, "It's a special." "Get on. It can't be beaten."
1995, Paul Vautin, Turn It Up!, Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia, page 146
present singular third person specials · US participle present specialing · UK participle present specialling · US participle past specialed · US past specialed · UK participle past specialled · UK past specialled
- nursingTo supervise a patient one-on-one.
We have not sent our pupils out on private duty except a very few times, but they have an unusual amount of specialing to do inside.
1905, Shadyside Hospital (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Annual Report, page 271 more example
Participant three described their personal interest in mental health care: “I have an interest in mental health but I have found that other staff on the surgical ward who have been there for a while… often say I hate specialling these patients…”
2015 July 7, Jo-Ann Giandinoto, Karen-leigh Edward, “The phenomenon of co-morbid physical and mental illness in acute medical care: the lived experience of Australian health professionals”, in BMC Research Notes, volume 8, →DOI
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveConstituting or relating to a species.
nounA reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered; the thing thus sold.
antonym(s) of “distinguished by a unique or unusual quality”
More synonyms by meaning
adjectiveunique or specific to a person or thing or category
adjectivefor a special service or occasion
adjectivesurpassing what is common or usual or expected
adjectiveadapted to or reserved for a particular purpose
adjectivefirst and most important
adjectiveadded to a regular schedule
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinspeciālis
- Old Frenchespecial
- Middle English*special
- Englishspecial
From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.
More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic خَاصّ, خُصُوصِيّ
- خَاصّ (ḵāṣṣ)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- خُصُوصِيّ (ḵuṣūṣiyy)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Basque berezi
- berezidistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Bengali বিশেষ
- বিশেষ (biśeś)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Bulgarian осо́бен, специа́лен
- осо́бен (osóben)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- специа́лен (speciálen)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- специален (specialen)of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- любим (ljubim)of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- особен (osoben)constituting or relating to a species
- промоция (promocija)a reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
Catalan especial, especial
- especialdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- especialof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
Chinese Cantonese 特別 /特别
- 特別 /特别 (dak⁶ bit⁶)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Chinese Mandarin 特別的 /特别的, 特殊的
- 特別的 /特别的 (tèbié de)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- 特殊的 (tèshū de)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- 專門的 /专门的 (zhuānmén de)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- 格外 (géwài)of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- 促銷 /促销 (cùxiāo)a reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
- 特惠 (tèhuì)a reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
- 特輯 /特辑 (tèjí)(TV, radio) unusual or exceptional episode of a series
- 專輯 /专辑 (zhuānjí)(TV, radio) unusual or exceptional episode of a series
Czech zvláštní, speciální
- zvláštnídistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- speciálnídistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- jedinečnýof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- zvláštníconstituting or relating to a species
- druhovýconstituting or relating to a species
- slevaa reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
Danish speciel
- specieldistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Dutch speciaal, speciaal
- speciaaldistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- speciaalof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- aanbiedinga reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
Esperanto speciala, speciala
- specialadistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- specialaof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
Estonian eri-, eriline
- eri-distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- erilineof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
Finnish erikoinen, omalaatuinen
- erikoinendistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- omalaatuinendistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- erikois-distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- pidettyof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- erityinenof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- tiettyof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- lajityypillinenconstituting or relating to a species
- erikoistarjousa reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
- erikoisjakso(TV, radio) unusual or exceptional episode of a series
- erikoislähetys(TV, radio) unusual or exceptional episode of a series
French spécial, particulier
- spécialdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- particulierof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- soldea reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
German speziell, Spezial-
- spezielldistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- Spezial-distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- ungewöhnlichdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- Sonder-distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- besonderedistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- speziellof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- Spezial-of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- Sonder-of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- bestimmtof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- Lieblings-of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- Sonderangebota reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
- Sondersendung(TV, radio) unusual or exceptional episode of a series
Greek έκτακτος, ειδικός
- έκτακτος (éktaktos)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- ειδικός (eidikós)of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- ιδιαίτερος (idiaíteros)of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- ειδικός (eidikós)constituting or relating to a species
- προσφορά (prosforá)a reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
- έκτακτος (éktaktos)(TV, radio) unusual or exceptional episode of a series
Hebrew מיוחד \ מְיֻחָד, ייחודי
- מיוחד \ מְיֻחָד (m'yukhád)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- ייחודי (yikhudí)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- מיוחד \ מְיֻחָד (m'yukhád)of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- מיוחד \ מְיֻחָד (m'yukhád)of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities
- מבצע (mivtsá)a reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
- פרק מיוחד (pérek meyukhád)(TV, radio) unusual or exceptional episode of a series
- ספיישל (spéyshel)(TV, radio) unusual or exceptional episode of a series
Hindi विशिष्ट, ख़ास
- विशिष्ट (viśiṣṭ)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- ख़ास (xās)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- विशेष (viśeṣ)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Hungarian különleges, speciális
- különlegesdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- speciálisdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- rendkívülidistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- alkalmidistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- külön-distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- szakmaidistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- szak-distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- különlegesof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- jellegzetesconstituting or relating to a species
- (fajra) jellemzőconstituting or relating to a species
- kisegítőof or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities
- speciálisof or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities
- akcióa reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
- árleszállítása reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
- különkiadás(TV, radio) unusual or exceptional episode of a series
Icelandic sérstakur
- sérstakurdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Indonesian khusus, istimewa
- khususdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- istimewadistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- khasdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- spesialof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
Irish speisialta, ar leith
- speisialtadistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- ar leithdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Italian speciale, specifico
- specialedistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- specificodistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- specialeof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
Japanese 特別な, 特殊な
- 特別な (tokubetsu na)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- 特殊な (tokushu na)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- スペシャル (supesharu)a reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
- スペシャル (supesharu)(TV, radio) unusual or exceptional episode of a series
Korean 특별하다, 특수하다
- 특별하다 (teukbyeolhada)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- 특수하다 (teuksuhada)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- 스페셜 (seupesyeol)a reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
- 스페셜 (seupesyeol)(TV, radio) unusual or exceptional episode of a series
Latin eximius, praecipuus
- eximiusdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- praecipuusdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- eximiusof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
Latvian īpašs
- īpašsdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Lithuanian ypatingas, nepaprastas
- ypatingasdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- nepaprastasdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Malay istimewa, khas
- istimewadistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- khasdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- khususdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- istimewaof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- tawaran khasa reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
- tawaran istimewaa reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
Māori motuhake
- motuhakedistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Norwegian spesiell
- spesiellof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
Norwegian Bokmål spesiell, spesial
- spesielldistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- spesialdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Persian ویژه, خاص
- ویژه (viže)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- خاص (xâs)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- مخصوص (maxsus)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- استثنایی (estesnâyi)of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities
Polish specjalny, wyjątkowy
- specjalnydistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- wyjątkowydistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- osobliwydistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- wyjątkowyof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
Portuguese especial, especial
- especialdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- especialof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- ofertaa reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
Romanian special
- specialdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Russian осо́бый, осо́бенный
- осо́бый (osóbyj)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- осо́бенный (osóbennyj)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- специа́льный (speciálʹnyj)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- дорого́й (dorogój)of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- люби́мый (ljubímyj)of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- видово́й (vidovój)constituting or relating to a species
- распрода́жа (rasprodáža)a reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
Scottish Gaelic sònraichte, àraidh
- sònraichtedistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- àraidhdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- air lethdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- sònraichteof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- àraidhof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
Slovak špeciálny, zvláštny
- špeciálnydistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- zvláštnydistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- zľavaa reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
Spanish especial, especial
- especialdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- especialof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- ofertaa reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
Swahili maalum
- maalumdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Swedish speciell, särskild
- specielldistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- särskilddistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- speciellof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- särskildof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
- speciellof or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities
- specialerbjudandea reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
- specialavsnitt(TV, radio) unusual or exceptional episode of a series
Thai พิเศษ
- พิเศษ (pí-sèet)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Turkish özel, has
- özeldistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- hasdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- özelof particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
Ukrainian особли́вий, спеціа́льний
- особли́вий (osoblývyj)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- спеціа́льний (speciálʹnyj)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- ви́їмковий (výjimkovyj)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Urdu خاص, مخصوص
- خاص (xās)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- مخصوص (maxsūs)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Vietnamese đặc biệt, giảm giá đặc biệt
- đặc biệtdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- giảm giá đặc biệta reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
Welsh arbennig
- arbennigdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Yiddish ספּעציעל
- ספּעציעל (spetsyel)distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with special
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
special. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/special
“special.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/special. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “special,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/special.
Source: special on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.