special delivery

American

noun

(in the U.S. Postal Service) delivery of mail outside the regularly scheduled hours, by a special messenger, upon the payment of an extra fee.

special delivery British

noun

the delivery of a piece of mail outside the time of a scheduled delivery

"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

Other Word Forms

special-delivery

adjective

Etymology

Origin of special delivery

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"The number of cases is forecast to continue to rise further, with more severe cases to be hospitalised," said the ministry, which issued special guidelines to healthcare providers this week.

From Reuters • Jul. 14, 2022

Public health experts have special guidelines for those who contract a breakthrough COVID-19 case, meaning when a fully vaccinated person catches the coronavirus.

From Salon • Aug. 20, 2021

The school’s policy also defines "special guidelines for spontaneous activities of expression" – public speech in response to breaking news or current events.

From Fox News • Jul. 15, 2021

A City Hall spokesperson said that entertainers visiting from specific coronavirus-plagued states will follow special guidelines instead of being subject to a 14-day quarantine rule for other Americans.

From Washington Times • Aug. 24, 2020

In 2008, protesters sued St. Paul, where the Republican convention was held, for not approving a march route and adopting special guidelines governing permit applications.

From New York Times • May 19, 2016

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023