special.
Distinguished by a unique, particular, or unusual quality.
Meaning & usage
Distinguished by a unique, particular, or unusual quality.
a special episode of a television series
her special blend of spices
Of particular value or interest; dear; beloved.
Everyone is special to someone.
his special friend of many years, Bill
Of or related to unconventional warfare.
special forces, special operations
Appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.
For the few times the U.S. Supreme Court has to actually try a case, they will appoint a special master to do so.
After the Watergate break in, a special prosecutor was appointed.
Constituting or relating to a species.
Having seven dark spots is a special property unique to Coccinella septempunctata.
Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.
special education, special needs
He goes to a special school.
Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities. Stupid, lacking intelligence.
What do you mean, you don't understand the sign? What are you, special?
Of, being, or pertaining to sexual intercourse or the genitals.
The parents told the kids not to bother them during special time.
The girl said the man had tried to touch her special place.
Infused with a drug, especially marijuana; being an edible.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.
A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered; the thing thus sold.
We're running a special on turkey for Thanksgiving.
I didn't have much money, so I bought the special.
A meal offered only at a certain time by a restaurant, not as a standing fixture of the menu; often, one of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price; also often a dish at a nondiscounted price that is seasonal or otherwise exciting or unusual.
Today's dinner special is wild salmon, which we don't normally get a chance to offer.
The Tuesday lunch special is our tuna melt on rye.
Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.
Did you see the Christmas special?
A special constable.
Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.
Thousands came to see the special that carried the President's coffin.
Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.
An award, typically a free game, that is made available to the player upon reaching or completing a major objective in a pinball game.
A journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.
A dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.
A light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.
One of certain mixed-breed dogs.
Singapore Special; Darwin special
A racehorse predicted to win; a sure thing.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.
To supervise a patient one-on-one.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.
Try it on your idea.
special has 7 characters. Say it out loud, try it alongside a description of your project, and see whether its meaning fits what you want to create.
These are naming prompts. Meanings and pronunciation can vary; existing brand and domain uses have not been checked.
Explore the name generatorA word with a source.
Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.