special effects

plural noun

: visual or sound effects introduced into a movie, video recording, or taped television production

Examples of special effects in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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While audiences often think of special effects as a post-production task, the conversation revealed how early VFX teams have to come on board to help other departments figure out what to shoot. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 16 June 2026 The cast’s voices were powerful and the special effects were minimal but effective. Nathan Diller, USA Today, 12 June 2026 On the technical side, the film’s a marvel — the editing tight and crisp yet never unnecessarily flashy, the special effects well done but not overdone, and the cinematography from Spielberg reg Janusz Kaminski playing to the unsettled times in which they are set. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 June 2026 Critics were mixed on the show though its special effects were widely praised. Brent Lang, Variety, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for special effects

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of special effects was in 1907

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Cite this Entry

“Special effects.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/special%20effects. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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