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Significant vs Special - What's the difference?

significant | special |

As adjectives the difference between significant and special

is that significant is signifying something; carrying meaning while special is distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.

As nouns the difference between significant and special

is that significant is that which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol while special is a reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered.

significant

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Signifying something; carrying meaning.
    • a significant''' word or sound; a '''significant look
  • * Sir Walter Raleigh
    • It was well said of Plotinus, that the stars were significant , but not efficient.
  • Having a covert or hidden meaning.
  • Having a noticeable or major effect; notable.
    • That was a significant step in the right direction.
    The First World War was a significant event.
  • Reasonably large in number or amount.
  • (statistics) Having a low probability of occurring by chance (for example, having high correlation and thus likely to be related).

    • Related terms

    * significance * significant other * signify

    Synonyms

    * important

    Antonyms

    * insignificant * ignorable * negligible * slight

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol.
    • (Wordsworth)
  • * Shakespeare
    • In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts.
    (Webster 1913) ----

    special

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.
    • a special episode of a television series
  • Of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored.
    • Everyone is special to someone.
  • (euphemistic, derogatory) Retarded; mentally handicapped
    • He goes to a special school.
  • Constituting or relating to a species.
    • The seven dark spots is a special property unique to ''Coccinella septempunctata''.
  • Chief in excellence.
  • * Shakespeare
    • The king hath drawn / The special head of all the land together.

    Derived terms

    * special attack * special constable * special defense * special delivery * special education / special ed * special forces * specialisation / specialization * specialise / specialize * specialist * speciality, specialty * specially * specialness * Special Olympics * special ops

    Related terms

    * especial * especially

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered.
    • We're running a special on turkey for Thanksgiving.
  • (broadcasting) Unusual or exceptional episode of a series
  • (British, colloquial) A special constable.
  • Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.
    • Thousands came to see the special that carried the President's coffin.
  • (video games) special move
  • * 1995 , "Tony Pordon", Tekken Review [PSX]'' (on newsgroup ''rec.games.video.misc )
    • Using the right moves, you can sometimes chain 2 specials in a row to form multiple hit combos.

    Statistics

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    Anagrams

    * English aphaeretic forms 1000 English basic words ----