# special

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈspɛʃ.əl/ · frequency rank #460

## Definitions
1. Distinguished by a unique, particular, or unusual quality.
2. Of particular value or interest; dear; beloved.
3. Of or related to unconventional warfare.
4. Appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.
5. Constituting or relating to a species.
6. Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.
7. Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.
8. Of, being, or pertaining to sexual intercourse or the genitals.
9. Infused with a drug, especially marijuana; being an edible.

## Etymology
From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.

## Easily confused with
- **species** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/special-vs-species)
- **specify** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/special-vs-specify)
- **spectral** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/special-vs-spectral)
- **specially** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/special-vs-specially)
- **specialty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/special-vs-specialty)
- **social** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/social-vs-special)
- **serial** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/serial-vs-special)
- **spatial** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spatial-vs-special)

## Common misspellings (10)
`psecial`, `sepcial`, `spceial`, `specail`, `speccial`, `speciall`, `specila`, `speical`, `sppecial`, `sspecial`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/special