special delivery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “special delivery” mean?
A premium postal service offering expedited, guaranteed delivery, often with signature confirmation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A premium postal service offering expedited, guaranteed delivery, often with signature confirmation.
Any object or message delivered in an urgent or exceptional manner. Can be used figuratively to describe something arriving unexpectedly or with great impact.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both regions use the term for premium postal services, though specific service levels and carriers differ. Figurative use is common in both.
Connotations
Connotes urgency, importance, and reliability in the postal context. In figurative use, it can have positive (e.g., a great speech) or negative (e.g., bad news) connotations depending on context.
Frequency
Fairly common in both varieties, though declining with the rise of electronic communication and private courier services.
Grammar
How to Use “special delivery” in a Sentence
send [sth] by special deliveryarrive via special deliveryneed special delivery for [sth]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “special delivery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They special-delivered the legal papers to ensure proof of receipt.
- I need to special-deliver this passport application.
American English
- We had the contract special-delivered to their office.
- Can you special-deliver this package for me?
adverb
British English
- The documents were sent special delivery.
- It will arrive special delivery tomorrow.
American English
- Please ship it special delivery.
- They mailed the check special delivery.
adjective
British English
- The special-delivery letter arrived before noon.
- He paid the special-delivery surcharge.
American English
- We offer a special-delivery option for an extra fee.
- Look for the special-delivery sticker on the envelope.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for sending contracts, legal documents, or time-sensitive materials.
Academic
Rare; may be used for submitting urgent physical theses or materials.
Everyday
Used for sending important cards, gifts, or documents where tracking and speed are needed.
Technical
Specific postal/courier service terminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “special delivery”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “special delivery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “special delivery”
- Using 'special delivery' to mean any fast delivery (e.g., from a restaurant).
- Confusing it with 'registered mail' (which focuses on proof, not necessarily speed).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While often next-day, 'special delivery' is a specific branded service from postal authorities (like Royal Mail in the UK or USPS historically) emphasizing guaranteed delivery, tracking, and often signature, not just speed. Private couriers have similar but differently named services.
Yes, it can be used as a phrasal verb (e.g., 'to special-deliver something'), though it is less common than the noun form. It's more typical to say 'send by special delivery'.
'Special delivery' prioritizes speed and guaranteed delivery time, often with insurance and signature. 'Registered mail' primarily provides detailed tracking and proof of mailing/delivery for valuable items, with speed being secondary.
Its use for physical mail has declined with email and private couriers (FedEx, DHL), but the term remains understood. Its figurative use in language is still current.
A premium postal service offering expedited, guaranteed delivery, often with signature confirmation.
Special delivery: in British English it is pronounced /ˌspeʃ.əl dɪˈlɪv.ər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌspeʃ.əl dɪˈlɪv.ɚ.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A special delivery from the stork (humorous: a new baby).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SPECIAL birthday gift that needs DELIVERY tomorrow, not next week. It's special because it's fast and tracked.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE/URGENCY IS A PRIORITY SERVICE (e.g., 'The CEO's speech was a special delivery of bad news').
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, what does 'a special delivery' often imply?