First recorded in 1900–05
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Her biggest concern: whether Tilit will be able to recover tariffs paid on a special order from China last year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 22, 2026
Instead, in early February, Justice Phil Berger Jr., Newby’s right-hand man and presumed heir on the court, circulated a draft of a special order agreeing to the rehearing, sources familiar with the matter said.
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2025
A source close to the government confirmed to BBC Afghan that the internet is back by special order of the Taliban prime minister.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2025
In the summer last year, Lucio Olmos Morales, the artisan who weaves vanilla on his porch, received a special order.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2024
“We came to pick up Travis’s special order of Deathstorm,” Dill said.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
He said he was most worried about potential delivery days for special-order bridal gowns for November and December weddings.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2024
J. Hal’s preparations for Thanksgiving began days in advance, beginning with his purchase of a special-order turkey that was comparable in size to a sack of soccer balls.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 22, 2022
The fancy disposable fountain pens I had to special-order from art stores were there, as were newly released books, magazine subscriptions, and shampoo.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 12, 2018
In spite of the grassroots campaign to revive Good Girls Revolt, right now the only way to watch it is on Amazon’s streaming platform or on a special-order manufactured-on-demand DVD.
From Slate ● Nov. 8, 2017
Beebi's gym suit was even a different color from everybody else's, like they'd had to special-order it for her.
From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
