1
: distinguished by some unusual quality
especially
: being in some way superior
our special blend
2
: held in particular esteem
a special friend
3
4
: being other than the usual : additional, extra
5
: designed for a particular purpose or occasion
specialness
noun
1
: one that is used for a special service or occasion
caught the commuter special to work
2
: something (such as a television program) that is not part of a regular series
3
: a featured dish at a restaurant
the specials of the day
Synonyms
Examples of special in a Sentence
Adjective
This is a special case and I want you to handle it personally.
Only under special circumstances will you be allowed to retake the test.
Your many years of service put you in a special category.
Why should you receive any special treatment?
It takes a special quality to do what he did.
This is a very special occasion.
Are you doing anything special over the holidays?
We have a special guest tonight—the mayor.
No one is more special to me than my wife.
He always made her feel special.
Noun
a one-hour special on whales
Today's lunch special is chili.
The specials are on the board.
They were having a special on paper towels so I stocked up.
Recent Examples on the Web
Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 15 Nov. 2024
Rock icon Bon Jovi made an appearance to give Vives a special award recognizing him as the Latin Recording Academy's Person of the Year.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
For his part, Jon Stewart, who was broadcasting live as the results came in during The Daily Show’s Election Night special, would like to remind us that all of these premature attempts at diagnosis are a fool’s errand.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for special 
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Adjective
Never mind the state’s policies (high gas taxes, special fuels mandate and a push to end fossil-fuels production) are the real causes of crushing gas prices.
—Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 15 Nov. 2024
Rock icon Bon Jovi made an appearance to give Vives a special award recognizing him as the Latin Recording Academy's Person of the Year.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
The election special aired live only on the East Coast.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
For his part, Jon Stewart, who was broadcasting live as the results came in during The Daily Show’s Election Night special, would like to remind us that all of these premature attempts at diagnosis are a fool’s errand.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for special
Dictionary Entries Near special
Cite this Entry
“Special.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/special. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
special
1 of 2 adjective
spe·cial
ˈspesh-əl 
1
a
: being unusual and especially better in some way
a special occasion
b
: being very dear or liked very well
a special friend
2
: different from others of the same kind : unique
a special case
3
: being or having more than the usual : additional, extra
a special edition
4
: designed for a certain purpose or occasion
a special diet
specially
adverb
ˈspesh-(ə-)lē
special
2 of 2 noun1
: one that is used for a special service or occasion
caught the commuter special to work
2
: something (as a television program) that is not part of a regular series
3
: a featured dish at a restaurant
the specials of the day
Legal Definition
special
adjective
spe·cial
1
: distinguished by some unusual quality
2
: relating to a single thing or class of things : having an individual character or trait
owed them a special duty not owed to the public at large
3
a
: supplemental to the regular
b
: assigned or provided to meet a need not covered under established procedures
4
: designed or selected for a particular purpose, occasion, or other end
family courts are courts of limited and special jurisdiction—Cleveland v. Cleveland, 559 P.2d 744 (1977)
Cleveland v. Cleveland, 559 P.2d 744 (1977)5
: containing particulars and details
a special pleading
specially
adverb
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