special
of a distinct or particular kind or character: a special kind of key.
being a particular one; particular, individual, or certain: You'd better call the special number.
pertaining or peculiar to a particular person, thing, instance, etc.; distinctive; unique: the special features of a plan.
having a specific or particular function, purpose, etc.: a special messenger.
distinguished or different from what is ordinary or usual: a special occasion;to fix something special.
extraordinary; exceptional, as in amount or degree; especial: special importance.
being such in an exceptional degree; particularly valued: a special friend.
Sometimes Offensive. pertaining to people with singular needs or disabilities, or to their education: disabled students with special needs;state funding for special schools.
a special person or thing.
a train used for a particular purpose, occasion, or the like.
a special edition of a newspaper.
Theater. a spotlight reserved for a particular area, property, actor, etc.: Give me the coffin special.
a temporary, arbitrary reduction in the price of regularly stocked goods, especially food; a particularly worthwhile offer or price: The special this week is on sirloin steaks.
Television. a single program not forming part of a regular series.
Origin of special
1synonym study For special
usage note For special
The phrase special needs is somewhat more accepted, but is less common than it used to be. Instead, when possible, make reference to the specific disability in question. However, the fixed expression special education is still an official designation in public education and continues to be used, even by speakers who otherwise avoid special and its compounds.
usage note For special
Other words for special
Opposites for special
Other words from special
- spe·cial·ly, adverb
- in·ter·spe·cial, adjective
- non·spe·cial, adjective, noun
- su·per·spe·cial, adjective, noun
Words Nearby special
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use special in a sentence
Bradford hustled, advertising her specials on Facebook and calling around to nonprofits and municipal agencies, asking if anyone needed food delivered.
The Big Corporate Rescue and the America That’s Too Small to Save | by Lydia DePillis, Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel | September 12, 2020 | ProPublicaGW Ori has long been an exemplar for all the special dynamical effects that go on in such a system.
A strange dusty disk could hide a planet betwixt three stars | Paola Rosa-Aquino | September 11, 2020 | Popular-ScienceThe rider with the most such points at the end of the Tour is named “King of the Mountains” and gets to wear a special polka dot jersey.
There are special places like that, like Floriana up the street, or Martin’s Tavern over in Georgetown.
The congressional model uses 265 variables in the House and 201 in the Senate spanning each non-special congressional election from 2006 until 2020.
The Forecast: The Methodology Behind Our 2020 Election Model | Daniel Malloy | September 10, 2020 | Ozy
As for the federal authorities, they have made themselves available but the clergy have not requested special protection.
At the same time, campaigns are spending less while the special-interest groups are spending more.
The off-year special election into which Duke threw himself drew little media notice at first.
All of the big cats have a special mystique, but perhaps none more so than the tiger.
This Tiger Has Some Serious Ups | Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIt all sounds a bit dramatic, but that cactus feels like something special.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art | Alec Kubas-Meyer | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTFor this use of the voice in the special service of will-power, or propelling force, it is necessary first to test its freedom.
Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge SouthwickDiplococci without capsules are common in the sputum, but have no special significance.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddWill the new issues promptly retire when their special task is over?
Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur PhillipsInstead of the expected general amnesty, only a few special pardons were granted.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanThe result of this mission was eminently successful; a special treaty was drawn up and Spain sold Louisiana to France.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
British Dictionary definitions for special
/ (ˈspɛʃəl) /
distinguished, set apart from, or excelling others of its kind
(prenominal) designed or reserved for a particular purpose: a special tool for working leather
not usual or commonplace
(prenominal) particular or primary: his special interest was music
denoting or relating to the education of physically or mentally handicapped children: a special school
a special person or thing, such as an extra edition of a newspaper or a train reserved for a particular purpose
a dish or meal given prominence, esp at a low price, in a café, etc
Australian history slang a convict given special treatment on account of his education, social class, etc
short for special constable
Australian, NZ, US and Canadian informal an item in a store that is advertised at a reduced price; a loss leader
NZ informal to advertise and sell (an item) at a reduced price: we are specialling butter this week
Origin of special
1special
Derived forms of special
- specially, adverb
- specialness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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