very special episode

American

[ver-ee spesh-uhl ep-uh-sohd] / ˈvɛr i ˈspɛʃ əl ˈɛp əˌsoʊd /

noun

an episode of a television series that deals with a serious issue, usually something controversial or socially difficult to talk about.

When I’m unwinding with a favorite sitcom from the 80s, the last thing I want to see is a very special episode about teenage alcoholism.

Etymology

Origin of very special episode

First recorded in 1940–45 as a term used in art history; its current sense first appeared in 1980–85 and was used in television program advertising

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.

See Examples For:

very special episode

We just finished a very special episode that is pretty much all Fisk in this new incarnation and it was pretty exciting.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026

Asking whether the man who ripped Jimmy’s life apart merits forgiveness, though, isn’t an exercise engaged in on TV beyond the occasional very special episode.

From Salon ● Dec. 14, 2024

Satinder Kaur, collections manager for Dumfries House, said: "At The Prince's Foundation, we are very proud to have partnered with The Repair Shop for this very special episode."

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2022

‘Well, we weren’t going to make a very special episode out of it or anything.’

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 1, 2021

We have a very special episode this week!

From Slate ● Jun. 12, 2020

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