special
A2Neutral. Extremely common and acceptable in all registers from casual to formal.
Definition
Meaning
Better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual; designed for a particular purpose or person.
Can denote something or someone of particular, sometimes exclusive, importance; can also refer to something that is unique, limited, or distinctive within a specific context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is often used subjectively to express a positive evaluation of uniqueness or importance, but can also be used neutrally to indicate a specific function (e.g., 'special tool'). The meaning 'different from usual' can sometimes imply 'unusual' or 'exceptional', but not necessarily in a positive way (e.g., 'special measures').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The main potential difference is in the adverbial form: 'specially' is more common in BrE for the meaning 'for a particular purpose', while AmE tends to use 'especially' for that meaning more frequently, though both are understood.
Connotations
Identical core connotations. The noun 'special' in BrE can colloquially refer to a special constable or a special offer/broadcast, which are also understood in AmE. 'Special' as a menu item is equally common.
Frequency
Exceptionally high frequency in both dialects with no significant variation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Special to [person/place]Special for [purpose/occasion]Special in [way/quality]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nothing special”
- “Special delivery”
- “A special case”
- “Special pleading”
- “On special”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to offers, discounts, projects, or teams designated for a specific task (e.g., 'special rate', 'special project team').
Academic
Often used to denote a specific case, study, or field (e.g., 'special relativity', 'a special issue of the journal').
Everyday
Widely used for occasions, people, food, or events considered important or different (e.g., 'a special day', 'my special someone').
Technical
In computing/engineering, denotes a purpose-built function, character, or component (e.g., 'special character', 'special key').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The army was specialled in to deal with the crisis.
- They specialled the delivery for Saturday.
American English
- The unit was specialed for the covert operation.
- We can special the order if you need it by Friday.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Today is a special day.
- She is my special friend.
- We have a special offer on bread.
- They made special arrangements for guests with disabilities.
- He has a special talent for music.
- Is there anything special you'd like to do?
- The report highlights several issues of special concern to investors.
- He was awarded a medal for special bravery.
- This ingredient is what gives the dish its special flavour.
- The committee was granted special powers to investigate the matter.
- His theory occupies a special place in modern philosophy.
- The treaty includes special provisions for environmental protection.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SPECIAl plate – it's for a SPECIAl person on a SPECIAl day. The 'ial' ending is common for adjectives (e.g., official, financial).
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS BEING ELEVATED / SET APART (e.g., 'held in special esteem', 'on a special pedestal'). UNIQUENESS IS RARITY (e.g., 'a special edition').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'специальный', which is better translated as 'specific' or 'designed for a purpose'. Use 'особенный' for the core meaning of 'special'.
- Avoid direct calques like 'special teacher' for 'учитель специального образования'; use 'special needs teacher'.
- The phrase 'nothing special' is idiomatic and means 'ничего особенного', not a literal absence of something special.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'specially' (for a purpose) with 'especially' (particularly). *'I bought it especially for you' is more common than 'specially' in this context.
- Overuse as a vague positive adjective where more precise words (excellent, unique, beautiful) would be better.
- Incorrect word order: *'a special enough day' should be 'a special day enough' or, more naturally, 'a day special enough'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'special' used to mean 'designed for a particular purpose'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Especial' is a formal and now rare synonym for 'particular' or 'exceptional'. In modern English, 'special' is used for almost all contexts. 'Especially' (the adverb) is very common, but 'especial' (the adjective) is not.
Yes, though less common. It can imply 'unusual in a bad way' or 'requiring extra/unwanted attention' (e.g., 'He requires special handling' can be pejorative, or 'special measures' implying a problematic situation).
Grammatically, yes, as it's a gradable adjective. However, because 'special' already implies a high degree of uniqueness, some prefer 'more/most important' or 'more/most significant' for comparisons. In everyday speech, 'more special' is widely used.
As a noun, it often refers to a featured item (e.g., 'the chef's special' on a menu), a one-time TV programme ('a Christmas special'), or a discounted product ('today's special'). In BrE, it can also refer to a special constable.