b special
HighNeutral (common across formal, informal, and technical contexts)
Definition
Meaning
Better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual; designed or reserved for a specific purpose or person.
Can also refer to a unique offer, a one-off television programme, or a person assigned to a specific task (e.g., a security specialist). In education, refers to tailored provision for those with particular needs.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Conveys a sense of uniqueness, importance, or deviation from the standard. Can imply positive evaluation but is context-dependent (e.g., 'special needs' is a neutral technical term).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. In broadcasting, UK 'special' often refers to a one-off programme; US may use 'special episode'. In retail, both use 'special offer', but phrasing in ads may differ. 'Special education' is the formal term in both, but 'SEN' (Special Educational Needs) is a specific UK administrative term.
Connotations
Largely identical. Both carry positive connotations of importance and uniqueness. The phrase 'a bit special' can be mildly pejorative in informal UK English (meaning odd or eccentric).
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
special to [someone]special for [purpose/occasion]special in [way/quality]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nothing special (ordinary)”
- “A special someone (romantic partner)”
- “Special delivery (urgent postal service)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to limited-time promotions ('special offer'), dedicated teams ('special project group'), or unique conditions ('special terms').
Academic
Used in fields like education ('special educational needs'), physics ('special relativity'), or law ('special prosecutor'). Denotes a specific, defined sub-category.
Everyday
Describes important events, people, or items that stand out from the routine (e.g., a special day, a special meal).
Technical
In computing, a 'special character'; in broadcasting, a 'special programme'; in logistics, 'special handling'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Rare as verb) The council agreed to special the funding for the festival.
American English
- (Rare as verb) The network will special that episode next week.
adverb
British English
- (Informal) They cooked special nice for the guests.
American English
- (Informal) She made it special just for you.
adjective
British English
- They made a special effort for the Queen's Jubilee.
- This is a special edition model.
American English
- We have a special on ribeye steaks this weekend.
- He's in special education classes.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Today is a special day.
- She is my special friend.
- They have a special offer on milk.
- The school provides support for children with special needs.
- We booked a special table for our anniversary.
- He used special software to edit the video.
- The diplomat was granted special permission to access the files.
- This ingredient is what makes the recipe so special.
- The documentary was a one-off special about climate change.
- The committee was convened for the special purpose of reviewing ethical procedures.
- His theory posits a special case where the standard rules do not apply.
- The two nations have long maintained a 'special relationship', fraught with both cooperation and tension.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SPECIAL' as 'SPECIficALLY' important or different. Both words start with 'speci-'.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANT IS SPECIAL (elevated above the normal), UNIQUE IS SPECIAL (set apart from the crowd).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid overtranslating as 'специальный' when meaning is 'особенный'. 'Special occasion' is 'особый случай', not 'специальный случай' (which implies purpose-built).
- The phrase 'special forces' translates as 'войска специального назначения', but the adjective 'special' alone does not automatically mean 'спец-'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He is a special person to me' (context: romantic) translated as 'Он специальный человек'. Correct: 'особенный'.
- Incorrect preposition: 'This is special *to* me' (correct) vs. 'This is special *for* me' (less common for personal significance).
Practice
Quiz
In which phrase does 'special' most clearly mean 'unique or exceptional' rather than 'designed for a purpose'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while often positive ('special gift'), it can be neutral ('special administrative region') or even mildly negative in phrases like 'a bit special' (UK informal for 'odd').
'Especial' is formal and now rare. 'Special' is the standard term. 'Especial' is sometimes used for emphasis ('of especial importance'), but 'special' or 'particular' are more common.
'Special to' relates to personal significance or attachment (This song is special to me). 'Special for' often relates to being created or used for a specific occasion or purpose (a tool special for cutting glass).
Yes. It can mean a special offer or product ('Today's special is soup'), a one-off TV/radio programme ('a Christmas special'), or a person assigned to a task (police specials).