special treatment

noun

A form of exceptional handling or care that differs from the standard, often implying favoritism.

OriginGerman Sonderbehandlung →
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Meanings

nounspecial treatment (countable and uncountable, plural special treatments)

plural special treatments

  1. countableidiomaticuncountableA form of exceptional handling or care that differs from the standard, often implying favoritism.
  2. NazismcountableeuphemistichistoricaluncountableMass murder that was carried out by Nazi functionaries and the SS.
  3. countableuncountableUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see special, treatment.

Origin

  1. GermanSonderbehandlung
  2. Englishspecial treatment

The second sense is a calque of German Sonderbehandlung.

More words from German

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

special treatment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/special%20treatment

MLA

“special treatment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/special%20treatment. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “special treatment,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/special%20treatment.

Source: special treatment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.