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ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Special

/ˈspɛʃ.əl/ · adjective

Meaning

Distinguished by a unique, particular, or unusual quality..

Definitions by Sense

  1. Distinguished by a unique, particular, or unusual quality.
  2. Of particular value or interest; dear; beloved.
  3. (military) Of or related to unconventional warfare.
  4. (law) Appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.
  5. Constituting or relating to a species.
  6. (euphemistic, not comparable) Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.
  7. Of, being, or pertaining to sexual intercourse or the genitals.
  8. Infused with a drug, especially marijuana; being an edible.

Example Sentences

a special episode of a television series
her special blend of spices
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.
Everyone is special to someone.
his special friend of many years, Bill
special forces, special operations
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.

Synonyms for special

Antonyms for special

Related Words

Word Forms

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does special mean?

Special means Distinguished by a unique, particular, or unusual quality..

What is a synonym for special?

Common synonyms include specific, offer, peculiar, extraordinary.

What is the opposite of special?

Possible antonyms include common, common-or-garden, everyday, general.

How do you use special in a sentence?

a special episode of a television series

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.