Meaning of the word special

What do we mean by special?

Surpassing what is common or usual; exceptional. adjective

Distinct among others of a kind. adjective

Primary. adjective

Peculiar to a specific person or thing; particular. adjective

Having a limited or specific function, application, or scope. adjective

Arranged for a particular occasion or purpose. adjective

Regarded with particular affection and admiration. adjective

Additional; extra. adjective

Something arranged, issued, or appropriated to a particular service or occasion. noun

A featured attraction, such as a reduced price. noun

A single television production that features a specific work, a given topic, or a particular performer. noun

Of or pertaining to a species or sort; of a particular kind or character; distinct from other kinds; specifically characteristic.

Of or pertaining to one or more of a kind; peculiar to an individual or a set; not general; particular; individual.

Peculiar or distinct of the kind; of exceptional character, amount, degree, or the like; especially distinguished; express; particular.

Specifically, limited as to function, operation, or purpose; designed for specific application or service; acting for a limited time or in a restricted manner; not general of the kind named: as, special legislation; special pleading; a special agent, constable, or correspondent; special employment; a special dictionary.

Synonyms Special, Especial, Particular, Peculiar, Specific. Special is more common than especial, which has the same meaning; but especially is for rhythmical reasons (because it occurs most frequently at the beginning of a dependent clause, where usually an unaccented particle occurs, and where, therefore, a word with an accent on the first syllable is instinctively avoided) much more common than specially. The special comes under the general, as the particular comes under the special. A special favor is one that is more than ordinary; a particular favor is still more remarkable; a peculiar favor comes very closely home. When we speak of any particular thing, we distiuguish it from all others; when we speak of a specific fault in one’s character, we name it with exactness; a special law is one that is made for a particular purpose or a peculiar case; a specific law is either one that we name exactly or one that names offenses, etc., exactly.

A special or particular person or thing. noun

(b ) A private companion; a paramour or concubine. noun

A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered.

One of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price at a restaurant.

Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.

A special constable.

Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.

Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.

A correspondent; a journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.

A dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.

A light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.

Word that is often used with the intended meaning of saying that everyone is unique in their own way; however, it mostly just confuses children, as it often results in the use of one word describing opposing ends of a spectrum (super-geniuses and the mentally handicapped, athletes and asthmatics, supermodels and trolls, etc, etc, etc.) Urban Dictionary

There is both «good» special and «bad» special:
good special: unique, extraordinary
bad special: mentally not all together intact Urban Dictionary

You Urban Dictionary

We use it to describe those kids who ride the short school bus and find ways to injure themselves while eating pudding
with rubber spoons. (Usually referring to your friends in this manner in a sarcastic tone) Urban Dictionary

Adj. Euphemism for having a disability, esp. a behavioral or mental disability; low-functioning mental retardation in particular. Synonyms: different, feeble-minded, retarded. Urban Dictionary

1.Unique; often has a strong positive connotation. Something you admire or want.
2.Mentally disadvantaged. Urban Dictionary

One of a kind
different in many ways
something that cant be replaced Urban Dictionary

Politically correct word for a retard. Urban Dictionary

Retarded
Take any sentence containing the word «special» and replace it with «retarded».
Really livens up a statement: Urban Dictionary

A word describing something lame, dumb, so beyond normal comprehension one cannot fathom it. Often accompanied with a sarcastic tone. Urban Dictionary

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). Displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.

Pronunciation[edit]

• enPR: spĕʹshəl, IPA^(key): /ˈspɛʃ.əl/
• Rhymes: -ɛʃəl

Adjective[edit]

special (comparative more special or specialer, superlative most special or specialest)

1. Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.

   a special episode of a television series

   • 2004, Carlin, George, “PLEASE DON’T SAY THAT”, in When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?‎^[1], New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, →OL, page 132:

     EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL
     An empty and meaningless sentiment. What about every adult? Isn’t every adult special? And if not, then at what age does a person go from being special to being not-so-special? And if every adult is also special, then that means all people are special and the idea has no meaning.

2. Of particular personal interest or value; dear; beloved.

   Everyone is special to someone.

3. (euphemistic) Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.

   He goes to a special school.

4. Constituting or relating to a species.

5. Chief in excellence.

   • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:

     The king hath drawn / The special head of all the land together.

6. (military) Of or related to unconventional warfare.

   special forces, special operations

Antonyms[edit]

• (distinguished by a unique or unusual quality): common, non-special, ordinary, usual

Derived terms[edit]

[edit]

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

special (plural specials)

1. A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered.

   Synonym: offer

   We’re running a special on turkey for Thanksgiving.

2. One of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price at a restaurant.

   Today’s special is our tuna melt on rye.

3. (broadcasting) Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.

   Did you see the Christmas special?

4. (Britain, colloquial) A special constable.
5. Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.

   Thousands came to see the special that carried the President’s coffin.

6. Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.
7. (journalism) A correspondent; a journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.
8. (journalism) A dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.
9. (theater) A light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.
   • 2009, Steven Shelley, A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting (page 132)

     In addition to followspots, there will be three frontlight specials on Autoyokes hung on the truss to provide frontlight specials.

   • 2009, Jennifer Bringle, Lighting (page 23)

     The first is a special—a single lighting instrument that lights a particular spot on the stage. Specials generally have no color, or a more saturated color, allowing them to stand out through other lighting onstage.

10. (law) A person appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.

    For the few times the U.S. Supreme Court has to actually try a case, they will appoint a special master to do so.

    After the Watergate break in, a special prosecutor was appointed.

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

special (third-person singular simple present specials, present participle specialing or specialling, simple past and past participle specialed or specialled)

1. (nursing) To supervise a patient one-on-one.

   • 1905, Shadyside Hospital (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Annual Report‎^[2], page 27:

     We have not sent our pupils out on private duty except a very few times, but they have an unusual amount of specialing to do inside.

   • 2015 July 7, Jo-Ann Giandinoto, Karen-leigh Edward, “The phenomenon of co-morbid physical and mental illness in acute medical care: the lived experience of Australian health professionals”, in BMC Research Notes‎^[3], volume 8, →DOI:

     Participant three described their personal interest in mental health care: “I have an interest in mental health but I have found that other staff on the surgical ward who have been there for a while… often say I hate specialling these patients…”

Anagrams[edit]

• epicals, piacles, plaices

Dutch[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from English special.

Pronunciation[edit]

• (Netherlands) IPA^(key): /ˈspɛ.ʃɔl/, /ˈspɛ.ʃɑl/
• Hyphenation: spe‧ci‧al

Noun[edit]

special m (plural specials)

1. A special broadcast episode.

[edit]

• speciaal

Middle French[edit]

Adjective[edit]

special m (feminine singular speciale, masculine plural speciaulx, feminine plural speciales)

1. special; extraordinary; beyond what is usual

Romanian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From French spécial, from Latin specialis.

Adjective[edit]

special m or n (feminine singular specială, masculine plural speciali, feminine and neuter plural speciale)

1. special

Declension[edit]

Swedish[edit]

Noun[edit]

special c

1. a large-scale map folded into the main map or nautical chart

   Synonym: specialkarta

Declension[edit]

Adjective[edit]

special

1. (almost exclusively in compounds) special

See also[edit]

• specialare
• specialitet (“specialty”)
• speciell (“special”)

References[edit]

• special in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• special in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• special in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)

• Defenition of the word special

  • Of particular interest.
  • A dish or meal given prominence in e.g. a restaurant.
  • surpassing what is common or usual or expected; «he paid especial attention to her»; «exceptional kindness»; «a matter of particular and unusual importance»; «a special occasion»; «a special reason to confide in her»; «what’s so special about the year 2000?»
  • added to a regular schedule; «a special holiday flight»; «put on special buses for the big game»
  • having a specific function or scope; «a special (or specific) role in the mission»
  • unique or specific to a person or thing or category; «the particular demands of the job»; «has a paraticular preference for Chinese art»; «a peculiar bond of sympathy between them»; «an expression peculiar to Canadians»; «rights peculiar to the rich»; «the special features of a computer»; «my own special chair»
  • first and most important; «his special interest is music»; «she gets special (or particular) satisfaction from her volunteer work»
  • for a special service or occasion; «a special correspondent»; «a special adviser to the committee»; «had to get special permission for the event»
  • adapted to or reserved for a particular purpose; «a special kind of paint»; «a special medication for arthritis»
  • a television production that features a particular person or work or topic; «the last of a series of BBC specials on Iran is being shown tonight»
  • a special offering (usually temporary and at a reduced price) that is featured in advertising; «they are having a special on pork chops»
  • a dish or meal given prominence in e.g. a restaurant
  • surpassing what is common or usual or expected; «he paid especial attention to her»; «exceptional kindness»; «a matter of particular and unusual importance»; «a special occasion»; «a special reason to confide in her»; «what»s so special about the year 20
  • a television production that features a particular person or work or topic
  • a special offering (usually temporary and at a reduced price) that is featured in advertising
  • surpassing what is common or usual or expected
  • having a specific function or scope
  • unique or specific to a person or thing or category
  • for a special service or occasion
  • first and most important
  • adapted to or reserved for a particular purpose
  • added to a regular schedule

Synonyms for the word special

• • distinctive
  • elite
  • especial
  • exceptional
  • exclusive
  • extra
  • extraordinary
  • individual
  • limited
  • out of the ordinary
  • particular
  • peculiar
  • singular
  • unique
  • unusual

Similar words in the special

• • extraordinary
  • primary
  • special
  • specialer
  • specialised
  • specialists
  • specialization
  • specialization’s
  • specialize
  • specialized
  • specializes
  • specializing
  • specially
  • specials
  • specialties
  • specialty
  • specialty’s
  • specific
  • uncommon
  • unscheduled

Hypernyms for the word special

• • dish
  • offer
  • offering
  • television program
  • television show
  • TV program
  • TV show

See other words

• • What is zony
  • The definition of spark plug
  • The interpretation of the word wood pigeon
  • What is meant by zombie
  • The lexical meaning wood
  • The dictionary meaning of the word spare
  • The grammatical meaning of the word woobie
  • Meaning of the word zoilism
  • Literal and figurative meaning of the word wonk
  • The origin of the word zorse
  • Synonym for the word zwitterion
  • Antonyms for the word work function
  • Homonyms for the word workaholic
  • Hyponyms for the word specie
  • Holonyms for the word workout
  • Hypernyms for the word world
  • Proverbs and sayings for the word varicosity
  • Translation of the word in other languages zymurgy