Definition of special - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
uniquenessdistinguished by a unique or unusual quality
- This is a special edition of the book.
2.
specific usedesigned for a particular purpose or occasion
- She bought a special tool for the repair..
3.
esteemedhaving a particular esteem or importance
- He always had a special place in her heart..
4.
qualitysurpassing what is common or usual or expected
- His special talent is playing the piano.
5.
calendaradded to a regular schedule
- There is a special train service on holidays.
6.
disabilitiesUS related to disabilities especially learning or intellectual disabilitiesUS
- He attends a special school for his needs.
7.
investigationappointed specifically to examine a single event or issue
- A special committee was formed to investigate.
Noun
1.
discountUS product or service offered at a reduced priceUS
- The store's special attracted many customers.
2.
entertainmentUS feature or show not regularly scheduledUS
- The network aired a holiday special last night..
3.
journalismUK journalist sent to report on an eventUK
- The special covered the election live.
4.
theaterTECH. US light focusing on a specific stage areaTECH. US
- The actor stood in the special during his monologue.
5.
law enforcementRare UK British volunteer police officer with limited powersRare UK
- He served as a special during the event.
Verb
1.
advertisingRare US sell an item at a lower priceRare US
- The store decided to special the new toys for the holidays.
2.
nursingRare watch over a patient closelyRare
- The nurse will special the patient during the night.
Images of special

light focusing on a specific stage area
Expressions with special
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unique or secret ingredient in a recipe
The chef's special sauce made the dish unforgettable.
close and unique connection between two entities
Their special relationship led to successful collaborations.
small cheap gun often used in crimes
The police found a Saturday-night special at the scene.
emphasizing favorable aspects while ignoring unfavorable ones
Her special pleading ignored the project's failures.
discount offered to customers who arrive early
The restaurant offers an early bird special for diners who arrive before 6 PM.
episode in a TV series about a serious or important event
That was a very special episode about bullying.
dish recommended by the chef
I decided to try the chef's special for dinner.
limited-time deal to attract customers
Don't miss the special offer ending tomorrow.
cause someone to feel valued or important
He always knows how to make her feel special.
something ordinary or not noteworthy
The meal was nothing special, just a simple sandwich.
available for a lower price or with a special deal
These shoes are on special offer this week.
eating plan with certain foods allowed or not allowed
She follows a special diet for her allergies.
visual or sound illusion in media
The movie's special effect made the dragon look real.
unique function organized by a company or group
The annual gala is a special event for the charity.
Chinese-style dish with mixed meats and vegetables
We ordered special fried rice for dinner.
friend with a unique or significant role
He has always been my special friend since childhood.
notable person at a gathering
The special guest at the dinner was the mayor.
important event or celebration
Her wedding was a special occasion for the whole family.
unique circumstance requiring special attention
The festival's cancellation was a special situation for the town.
person with whom one shares a romantic relationship
She introduced me to her special someone at the party.
unique type or category of something
This cake is a special sort of dessert.
expression of gratitude for someone or something
I would like to give special thanks to my parents for their support.
especially important or unusually good compared to others in its group
She baked an extra special cake for his birthday.
try harder than usual for a particular person task or goal
We should make a special effort to welcome the new students.
Origin of special
Latin, specialis (particular) + -al (pertaining to)
Terms with special included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
celebration
gifts given to someone on a special occasion
routine or event
put on clothes for daily life or special occasions
care
detailed care or special treatment
note
printed greeting sent for special occasions
everyday stuff
ordinary or not special
lifestyle
appropriate for ordinary use, not special occasions
special day
day set aside for celebration, often without work
comparison
normal and not special or different
celebration
gift given to someone on a special occasion
enhance appearance
put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive
special
highlights a unique or special action for someone
sea gear
swim underwater using special equipment
style
special, unusual, or elaborate
wonder
special quality making something seem wonderful
celebration
special event or celebration
career type
type of job requiring special education or skill
occupation
skilled job requiring manual skills and special training
pleasurable event
special pleasure or entertainment offered to someone
enjoyment
for enjoyment or as a special reward
celebration
girl or woman receiving special attention on her birthday
games sports school
extra point given for special achievement or performance
gaming
extra points given for completing special tasks
sports
special shoe worn for bowling sport
healthcare
person helping people with special needs
Examples of special in a sentence
The museum has a special exhibit this month. He wore a special suit for the occasion. They used a special ingredient in the recipe. This ring is very special to me. She received a special award for her achievements. She received a special award for her artwork.
This cake has a special ingredient that makes it delicious. A special bus runs after the football match. The clinic added a special evening session on Friday. She works with special children in the community. The program offers special services for those in need. The special prosecutor handled the case with care. A special task force was assigned to the investigation. Today's lunch special includes a free drink. They offered a special on all electronic items. They announced a special on climate change. The cooking special featured celebrity chefs. A special was dispatched to cover the summit. The newspaper's special reported from the disaster zone. The director requested a special for the dramatic scene. A special highlighted the dancer's solo performance. The special assisted in crowd control. A special was appointed to patrol the area. They will special the old stock to clear inventory. The company plans to special the gadgets next month. He was assigned to special the elderly patient. They will special him until he recovers.
View all translations of special
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:spécial, promotion, ...
- German:besonders, Sonderangebot, ...
- Italian:speciale, offerta speciale, ...
- Spanish:especial, oferta especial, ...
- Portuguese:especial, promoção, ...
- Chinese:特别的, 特价, ...
- Japanese:特別な, 特売, ...
- Arabic:مُمَيَّز, عَرْض خَاص, ...
- Hebrew:מְיֻחָד, מִבְצָע, ...
- Russian:особый, скидка, ...
- Ukrainian:особливий, спеціальна пропозиція, ...
- Hindi:विशेष, छूट, ...
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