especial

adjective es·pe·cial \ i-ˈspe-shəl \

Updated on: 24 Apr 2018

Definition of especial

: 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

— in especial

: in particular

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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 of especial from the Web

Thank you sweet for the quick ride Que dia especial!

— charles curtis, For The Win, "Tom Brady and Gisele are in Qatar riding camels," 17 Apr. 2018
Mr Pinker draws especial comfort from the decline of faith.

— The Economist, "A future perfectSteven Pinker’s case for optimism," 24 Feb. 2018
And the event has a growing following in China, where prestigious awards tend to command especial reverence, and where the local entertainment market continues to boom.

— patrick brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, "STX Entertainment to Distribute Golden Globes in China (Exclusive)," 18 Dec. 2017
This was an especial gift since the Pirelli P Zero Corsa summer tires that work so admirably in sunny Lisbon were cold, hard and hydroplaning luridly in Wales.

— dan neil, WSJ, "Why the $285,000 McLaren 720S Is the Shape of Things to Come," 13 July 2017
The Proper Procedure and Other Stories is filled with such people — of no especial intelligence or virtue, self-absorbed, Many of Dalrymple’s characters are more inclined to do their worst than to do their best.

— ian tuttle, National Review, "The Welfare Culture and Its Discontents," 1 Aug. 2017
The Iron Age Theatre Company has had an especial sweet tooth for Shepard, having done The Buried Child, Simpatico, Fool for Love, Curse of the Staving Class, and The Tooth of Crime.

— john timpane, Philly.com, "Sam Shepard: Man of the theater; the theater of a man," 31 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'especial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of especial

Middle English, from Anglo-French — more at special

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

especial Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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.