special

1 of 2

adjective

spe·​cial ˈspe-shəl How to pronounce special (audio)
1
: distinguished by some unusual quality
especially : being in some way superior
our special blend
2
: held in particular esteem
a special friend
3
a
: readily distinguishable from others of the same category : unique
they set it apart as a special day of thanksgiving
b
: of, relating to, or constituting a species : specific
4
: being other than the usual : additional, extra
5
: designed for a particular purpose or occasion
specialness noun

special

2 of 2

noun

1
: one that is used for a special service or occasion
caught the commuter special to work
2
: something (such as a television program) that is not part of a regular series
3
: a featured dish at a restaurant
the specials of the day
Choose the Right Synonym for special

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 special in a Sentence

Adjective This is a special case and I want you to handle it personally. Only under special circumstances will you be allowed to retake the test. Your many years of service put you in a special category. Why should you receive any special treatment? It takes a special quality to do what he did. This is a very special occasion. Are you doing anything special over the holidays? We have a special guest tonight—the mayor. No one is more special to me than my wife. He always made her feel special. Noun a one-hour special on whales Today's lunch special is chili. The specials are on the board. They were having a special on paper towels so I stocked up.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The 26-date jaunt, which will be supported by special guest Jazmine Sullivan and October London, will kicks off on Sept. 14 at Hollywood, Fla.’s Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, and wrap on Oct. 27 at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum. Heran Mamo, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2024 Ultra Music Festival was treated to a special appearance from Jon Bon Jovi. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2024 Born in Manhattan on Nov. 19, 1945, Weinstein began her career as an assistant film editor in New York and served as special events director for Mayor John Lindsay, bringing cultural productions and street festivals to communities across the city. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Mar. 2024 The Carstairs family, who live in Rancho Santa Fe, participated in the Exceptional Family Member Program, which helps military dependents with special health care needs. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024 Dell and Durban increased their offer by 10 cents a share and threw in a special dividend for some shareholders. Michal Lev-Ram, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024 Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 25 Mar. 2024 On Tuesday night, Greaves told followers during a special service at Forerunner Church that the leadership team had engaged a third party to guide them on how to handle the issue but did not identify that party. Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024 Whether daydreaming, seductive or melancholic and fragile — each of her roles has a special aura surrounding it. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
Neal Brennan begins his forthcoming Netflix special with a disclaimer of sorts. Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 There are also specials for Pi Day, a tango festival and a chance to learn about the April 8 solar eclipse. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 What makes your Milwaukee neighborhood special to you? Jessica Rodriguez, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 The menu is varied, not just Italian, but has chicken, fish, veal dishes and more including specials with various preparations. Felicia Campbell, The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 In addition for its March special, the founders created the Red Wing Pizza to honor the hometown Detroit Red Wings. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, the categories devoted to outstanding writing for a daytime non-fiction series and outstanding writing for daytime non-fiction special have been merged into a new category: Outstanding writing for a daytime non-fiction program. Michael Schneider, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 In the first trailer for the upcoming special, the teary-eyed girls reminisce about their time on the show, unpack the complicated legacy of their former dance instructor, and in true Dance Moms fashion, don’t hesitate to shade their fellow dancers for skipping out on the reunion. Shania Russell, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 The 46-year-old Australian comic — who uses they/them pronouns — is the host of a new comedy special Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda, which premiered globally on Netflix on Tuesday. Lizzie Hyman, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'special.' 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

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French especial, from Latin specialis individual, particular, from species species

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near special

Cite this Entry

“Special.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/special. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

special

1 of 2 adjective
spe·​cial ˈspesh-əl How to pronounce special (audio)
1
a
: being unusual and especially better in some way
a special occasion
b
: being very dear or liked very well
a special friend
2
: different from others of the same kind : unique
a special case
3
: being or having more than the usual : additional, extra
a special edition
4
: designed for a certain purpose or occasion
a special diet
specially
ˈspesh-(ə-)lē
adverb

special

2 of 2 noun
1
: one that is used for a special service or occasion
caught the commuter special to work
2
: something (as a television program) that is not part of a regular series
3
: a featured dish at a restaurant
the specials of the day

Legal Definition

special

adjective
spe·​cial
1
: distinguished by some unusual quality
2
: relating to a single thing or class of things : having an individual character or trait
owed them a special duty not owed to the public at large
3
a
: supplemental to the regular
b
: assigned or provided to meet a need not covered under established procedures
4
: designed or selected for a particular purpose, occasion, or other end
family courts are courts of limited and special jurisdictionCleveland v. Cleveland, 559 P.2d 744 (1977)
5
: containing particulars and details
a special pleading
specially adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on special

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!