special
Noun pluralspecials
Pluralspecials
- 1Marked by a quality that sets it apart as unique, particular, or unusual.
The museum keeps its most fragile artifacts in a special climate-controlled room.
Engineers developed a special alloy able to survive the extreme heat of re-entry.
UsageAfter words like something and nothing: something special, nothing special.
Similarunique, particular, unusual, distinctive, exceptional
Oppositeordinary, common, standard, general
Note
George Carlin called "every child is special" an empty sentiment, because a quality that sets things apart cannot belong to everyone.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- George Carlin dismissed “every child is special” as meaningless because universal specialness would empty the distinction of meaning. en.wiktionary.org
- 2Of particular value or interest to someone, especially because the person or thing is dear to them or loved by them.
The small lake town where she spent her summers will always hold a special place in her heart.
He kept the worn letter because the friend who wrote it was so special to him.
UsageUsually special to someone; set phrase hold a special place in someone's heart.
- 3A dish a restaurant offers only at certain times rather than on its standing menu, often at a lower price or as a seasonal, unusual choice.
The waiter recommended the evening special, a seared trout with herbs.
Friday's special is always cheaper than the regular entrees.
UsageOften today's special or the lunch special.
- 4A temporary reduction in the price of goods or services; also the item sold at the reduced price.
The grocery chain ran a weekend special on fresh produce.
She stocked up on coffee while it was on special.
UsageOn special means at a lower price; a shop has a special on something.
Similaroffer
- 5A single television or radio program shown outside the regular schedule, often for an occasion, either a standalone show or a one-off episode of a series.
The network produced a two-hour special to mark the show's finale.
The documentary special drew record ratings on its premiere night.
UsageUsually with a word in front: a holiday special, a TV special, a Christmas special.
Note
Broadcasting turned the adjective into a noun for a program that breaks the regular schedule, whether a standalone show or a series' Christmas special. It is usually scheduled apart from the recurring season rather than slotted into it.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Broadcasting uses special as a noun derived from the adjective. en.wiktionary.org
- A special may interrupt regularly scheduled programming; doing so is not compulsory. en.wikipedia.org
- 6Appointed for the specific purpose of examining a single event or issue.
Congress appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the scandal.
The legislature convened a special committee to review the disputed contract.
UsageComes before the noun in titles: special prosecutor, special envoy, special committee.
Note
Law uses the adjective for an office with a single remit: a special prosecutor, a special master, a special committee. The contrast is with an officer of general jurisdiction, who handles whatever comes. The Watergate break-in is the classic setting for a special prosecutor. The U.S. Supreme Court appoints a special master for the rare case it must actually try.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 6 facts
- Special masters receive specified duties and limits of authority. law.cornell.edu
- Special committees can be established to examine a particular issue. sencanada.ca
- General jurisdiction covers a broad range of cases rather than a single assigned matter. law.cornell.edu
- Watergate involved an appointed special prosecutor. justice.gov
- The U.S. Supreme Court appoints special masters to conduct proceedings and gather evidence in original cases. supremecourt.gov
- Cases within the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction are rare relative to its overall caseload. fjc.gov
- 7Connected with disability, and in particular with difficulties in learning or intellectual disability.
The district expanded its special education program this year.
He works as a special needs aide at the elementary school.
UsageMostly in special needs, special education, a special school. Said of a person alone, it can sound like an insult.
Oppositemainstream, regular
- 8Concerning or relating to unconventional warfare and the forces that conduct it.
The mission called for special forces capable of operating deep in hostile territory.
Special operations rarely appear in official press briefings.
Oppositeconventional, regular
Less common meanings
- 9Something that departs from normal practice, plan, or schedule, such as an unscheduled run of transportation that normally follows a fixed timetable.
The station dispatched a special to handle the holiday crowds.
A late-night special ran after the concert finally let out.
- 10Stupid or unintelligent, used as a demeaning insult.
When she forgot her own phone number, her brother teased her for being a bit special.
She felt humiliated when her classmates jeered that she was special.
UsageOften in the mocking question What are you, special?
Similarstupid, slow, dim, dense, thick
Note
The insult grew by extension from the disability euphemism, and it stings because it pretends to be kind.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- The insulting sense developed by extension from the disability euphemism. en.wiktionary.org
- 11A volunteer who serves as a part-time, usually unpaid police officer alongside the regular force; a special constable.
As a special, he had the same powers of arrest as any regular officer on duty.
The force relied on specials to boost numbers during the bank holiday weekend.
Oppositeregular
Note
A British colloquial clipping of special constable, the part-time officer who serves alongside the regular police. "Don't Dilly Dally on the Way," the 1919 music-hall song Marie Lloyd made famous, sets the two side by side: "you can't trust a 'Special' like the old-time copper."
- 12Of a food, infused with a drug, especially marijuana, and prepared as an edible.
She warned her roommate that the gummies in the fridge were special.
A tray of special brownies disappeared before anyone read the label.
UsageMostly in special brownies or special cookies, sometimes in scare quotes.
Note
It keeps company with funny and happy, and it works because the innocent reading stays available. In Gillian A. Corsiatto's Duck Light (2021), a character hears "special brownies" and simply agrees that they are perfect and delicious.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Gillian A. Corsiatto wrote Duck Light, first published in 2021. books.friesenpress.com
- In Duck Light, a character hears “special brownies” and understands this as praise for their quality and taste. en.wiktionary.org
- 13Euphemistically, relating to sexual intercourse or the genitals.
Some parents use words like special parts when they talk to young children about their bodies.
When the boy asked where babies come from, his mother mumbled something about a special hug between mommies and daddies.
UsageOften in talk with children: special parts, a special hug.
Note
A nursery euphemism lets adults speak about sex and the body around children without naming either, as in special time or a special place.
- 14A journalist dispatched to the scene of an event in order to report back.
- 15A report filed and transmitted back to a newspaper by a special correspondent reporting from the scene.
- 16A stage light focused on a specific person or area rather than providing general illumination.
- 17A racehorse considered certain to win; a sure thing.
"How's your horse going to go Fatty?" My replies included, "It's a special." "Get on. It can't be beaten."
1995, Paul Vautin, Turn It Up! - 18A medicine, lacking a marketing license, that is prepared or sourced for one particular patient.
- 19To provide continuous one-to-one supervision and care to a single patient.
- 20An award, usually a free game, granted to a player for reaching or completing a major objective in pinball.
- 21Forming a species, or belonging to or concerning a particular species.
- 22A dog of mixed breed; a mongrel of no particular pedigree.
Showing meanings only.
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Origin
It comes from Middle English "special", from Old French "especial", which came from Latin "speciālis" (from "speciēs"). It is a doublet of "especial".
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Special derives through Middle English special and Old French especial from Latin speciālis, itself from speciēs. en.wiktionary.org
- Special and especial are doublets. en.wiktionary.org