especial

adjective

es·​pe·​cial i-ˈspe-shəl How to pronounce especial (audio)
: being distinctive: such as
a
: directed toward a particular individual, group, or end
sent especial greetings to his son
took especial care to speak clearly
b
: of special note or importance : unusually great or significant
a decision of especial relevance
c
: highly distinctive or personal : peculiar
had an especial dislike for music
d
: close, intimate
his especial crony
e
: specific, particular
had no especial destination in mind
Phrases
in especial
: in particular
Choose the Right Synonym for especial

special, especial, specific, particular, individual mean of or relating to one thing or class.

special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own.

special ingredients

especial may add implications of preeminence or preference.

a matter of especial importance

specific implies a quality or character distinguishing a kind or a species.

children with specific nutritional needs

particular stresses the distinctness of something as an individual.

a ballet step of particular difficulty

individual implies unequivocal reference to one of a class or group.

valued each individual opinion

Examples of especial in a Sentence

This is a matter of especial importance. a candidate who handled the stunning defeat with especial grace
Recent Examples on the Web Both took especial glee in going after Ramaswamy, a Trump for the millennial set so automatic in his Trumpier-than-thou responses to any question that Christie lampooned him as a sort of ChatGPT version of a Republican candidate. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2023 The city has an especial affinity for literature. Leah Asmelash, CNN, 2 Mar. 2022 Delivery is important in any form of storytelling, and in observational comedy cadence is the especial engine of wit. Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2023 People who live in assisted living facilities are at especial risk for dying from COVID-19. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2020 This project had drawn his attention to Pine Island Bay as a coastal area where the outer edge of glaciers might calve or break apart into icebergs with especial rapidity. Marissa Grunes, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2023 But researchers have identified a handful of seismic zones around the globe that are storing up especial amounts of stress and are particularly hazardous. Aline Reynolds, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2010 Years later, a place detective, who has suffered her own loss, travels to the village to reopen the case and develops an especial bond with the missing boy’s mother, who has never given up hope that Briel could still be alive. John Hopewell, Variety, 11 Nov. 2022 That could be an especial concern for people with long COVID, many of whose initial infections were asymptomatic or mild. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'especial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French — more at special

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of especial was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near especial

Cite this Entry

“Especial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/especial. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

especial

adjective
es·​pe·​cial is-ˈpesh-əl How to pronounce especial (audio)
1
: unusual, notable
put especial emphasis on this point
2
: relating to or unique to a certain person or thing : particular
each has its own especial qualities
especially
-ˈpesh-(ə-)lē
adverb

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