special interest
Americannoun
-
a political or economic stake in something.
Japan had a special interest in the South China Sea.
Other Word Forms
- special-interest adjective
Etymology
Origin of special interest
An Americanism dating back to 1785–90
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.
Why powerful labor unions, elected officials and special interest groups backed Eric Swalwell for govenor despite rumors about past inappropriate behavior.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
It may all also be of special interest to the millions more who are over 50, or 55, and who are thinking of retiring — or hoping to — in the reasonably near future.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 5, 2026
Benefit Street focuses on deals involving U.S.-based commercial and multifamily residential assets, with a special interest in locations in low- or no-tax states such as Florida, Texas and Tennessee.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026
Kiros has refused donations from corporate PACs and special interest groups in her campaign.
From Salon • Dec. 15, 2025
Ella took a special interest in me right away—Hilda must have mentioned some of my troubles in particular, since she was always concerned about me being separated from the family.
From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz
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.
