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Extraordinary vs Special - What's the difference?

extraordinary | special |

Special is a antonym of extraordinary.



As adjectives the difference between extraordinary and special

is that extraordinary is not ordinary; exceptional; unusual while special is distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.

As a noun special is

a reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered.

extraordinary

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Not ordinary; exceptional; unusual;
  • *
  • *
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 23, author=Tom Fordyce, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= 2011 Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand 8-7 France , passage=Tony Woodcock's early try and a penalty from fourth-choice fly-half Stephen Donald were enough to see the All Blacks home in an extraordinary match that defied all pre-match predictions.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-08, volume=407, issue=8839, page=52, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= The new masters and commanders , passage=From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much.
  • Remarkably good.
  • Usage notes

    * Can be said of all kinds of objects including people, events, things, and terms. * The pronunciation "extrordinary" is often preferred so as to avoid confusion with "extra ordinary", which would be defined as "more ordinary than usual".

    Synonyms

    *

    Antonyms

    * everyday, normal, ordinary, regular, usual

    Derived terms

    * extraordinary optical transmission * extraordinary professor * extraordinary rendition

    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

    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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