Special (adjective) — better, more important, or different from what is ordinary or usual; arranged or designed for a particular purpose.
Special (noun, informal) — a product, programme, or dish that is available only for a limited time or on a particular occasion.
What Does Special Mean?
Special comes from Latin specialis, meaning "of a particular kind", which derives from species (kind, sort, appearance). It entered English in the 13th century via Old French especial. The same root gives us species, specific, specimen, and the adverb especially — all sharing the core idea of singling out one thing from the rest.
In everyday English, special carries two overlapping senses. The first is qualitative: something special is above average or particularly important — a special birthday, a special talent. The second is functional: something special is designed for a specific purpose — a special edition, a special committee. Both senses are common and correct.
As a noun, special appears in fixed expressions: today's special on a restaurant menu, or a TV special — a one-off programme outside the regular schedule. This noun use is informal and mostly spoken or commercial in register.
Note the key distinction: special implies that something stands out as noteworthy or purpose-built, whereas specific simply means clearly identified or particular. Confusing these two is one of the most common errors made by intermediate ESL learners. See Cambridge Dictionary's full entry on “special” for more examples.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & Usage Note |
|---|---|
| Today is a special day for our family. | A2 — attributive adjective before noun |
| She prepared a special vocabulary list for the presentation. | B1 — purpose-built meaning, adjective modifying noun |
| The hotel offered a special rate for guests who booked in advance. | B1 — commercial collocation "special rate" |
| His understanding of the subject is particularly special, combining technical depth with genuine creativity. | B2 — predicative use with intensifier |
| The commission was established with special reference to the environmental impact of the proposed development. | C1 — formal phrase "with special reference to" |
Collocations
Learning special as part of fixed phrases makes your English sound far more natural. The table below shows the most frequent and useful collocations.
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| special offer | Take advantage of our special offer — 30% off this weekend only. |
| special occasion | We only open that bottle of wine on a special occasion. |
| special needs | The school provides support for children with special needs. |
| special effects | The film's special effects won several industry awards. |
| special edition | She bought the special edition of the novel, which includes extra chapters. |
| special guest | The conference featured a special guest from the European Parliament. |
| special delivery | They sent the documents by special delivery to guarantee next-day arrival. |
| pay special attention | Please pay special attention to the safety instructions before you begin. |
| make someone feel special | A thoughtful card can make anyone feel special on their birthday. |
| nothing special | The meal was fine, but nothing special — I have eaten better. |
Usage Notes
- Attributive vs predicative: Special works in both positions — a special moment (before the noun) and this moment is special (after the verb). Both are standard.
- Intensifiers: You can strengthen special with very, truly, particularly, or quite — all are natural. Avoid more special in formal writing; prefer more significant or even more special.
- Spoken noun use: Today's special (on a menu) and a TV special are informal. In formal writing, use the full noun phrase instead: today's special dish, a special broadcast.
- British vs American spelling: The adjective special is identical in both varieties. The related noun differs: speciality (British) vs specialty (American).
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
Can you give me a special explanation for this problem? (confusing special with specific)
Can you give me a specific explanation for this problem? (use specific when you mean "clearly defined, detailed")
She is a very special in her field. (missing noun after adjective used predicatively without complement)
She is very special in her field. (no article needed — special is a predicative adjective here)
He has a specially talent for languages. (using the adverb form before a noun)
He has a special talent for languages. (use the adjective special before a noun, not the adverb specially)
Word Family
Synonyms
Antonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions about “special”
What does special mean in English?
Special means better, more important, or different from what is ordinary or usual. It can also mean something arranged for a particular purpose, such as a 'special offer' or a 'special meeting'. The word is used as both an adjective ('a special occasion') and, more informally, as a noun ('today's special' on a menu).
What is the difference between special and specific?
Special emphasises that something is unusually good, important, or set apart from the ordinary — it has an emotional or qualitative flavour. Specific means clearly defined or identified, with no emotional overtone. You need a specific tool (= a particular one) but a special occasion (= an important, memorable one). They are not interchangeable.
Is special an adjective or a noun?
Special is primarily an adjective: 'a special event', 'something special'. It is also used informally as a noun, most commonly in 'today's special' (a dish on a menu) or 'TV special' (a one-off programme). In formal writing, the adjective use is overwhelmingly more common.
How do you pronounce special?
Special is pronounced /ˈspeʃ.əl/ in both British and American English. The stress is on the first syllable. The 'ci' combination is pronounced /ʃ/ — the same sound as in 'social', 'official', and 'especially'. A common pronunciation error is to say /ˈspe.si.əl/ with three syllables; the standard form has only two.
What are common collocations with special?
Common collocations include: special offer, special occasion, special needs, special effects, special interest, special edition, special guest, special delivery, pay special attention, and make someone feel special. These fixed phrases are far more natural than inventing new combinations, so learning them as chunks is highly recommended.
What is the difference between special and particular?
Particular singles out one item from a group without implying it is better — 'in this particular case'. Special adds a positive or noteworthy quality — 'a special case' suggests something requiring exceptional treatment. In everyday speech the two overlap, but in formal or academic writing the distinction matters.
What is the noun form of special?
The main noun form is speciality (British English) or specialty (American English), meaning an area of expertise or a distinctive product. The word specialist refers to a person with expert knowledge. Specialisation (BrE) / specialization (AmE) means the process of focusing on a particular field. The adjective especially comes from the related Latin root.
What is the origin of the word special?
Special comes from Latin 'specialis' meaning 'of a particular kind', derived from 'species' (kind, sort, appearance). It entered English in the 13th century via Old French 'especial'. The same Latin root gives us species, specific, specimen, and especially. The core idea of singling out one kind from many runs through all these words.
Can I say 'very special' or is that redundant?
'Very special' is perfectly natural and widely used in English: 'This is a very special moment.' Because special already implies a high degree of importance, some style guides prefer 'particularly special' or 'truly special' for emphasis, but in everyday speech 'very special' is entirely correct and not considered redundant.
How can I practise using special in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to see special in context alongside its key collocations. The Flash Cards tool lets you drill the word family (special, especially, speciality, specialist). For reading practice, look for 'special offer' leaflets or news headlines — special appears frequently in promotional and news writing.