Phrase guide

special effect

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means, as for example by the digital manipulation of previously filmed footage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: plural, usually

Topics: broadcasting, entertainment, film, lifestyle, media, television, theater

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: FX, F/X, SFX, S.F.X.

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an effect used to produce scenes that cannot be achieved by normal techniques (especially on film)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: effect

Narrower terms: stage effect

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: عنصر الإبهار (ʕunṣur-u l-ʔibhār) — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Azerbaijani: xüsusi effekt — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Catalan: efecte especial — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Chinese Mandarin: 特殊效果 (tèshū xiàoguǒ) — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Chinese Mandarin: 特效 (tèxiào) — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Chinese Mandarin: 特技 (tèjì) — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Finnish: erikoisefekti — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • French: effet spécial — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Georgian: სპეციალური ეფექტი (sṗecialuri epekṭi) — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Georgian: სპეცეფექტი (sṗecepekṭi) — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • German: Spezialeffekt — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Hebrew: אפקט מיוחד (efékt meyukhád) — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Indonesian: efek khusus — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Indonesian: efek visual — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Japanese: 特殊撮影 (tokushu satsuei) — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Malay: kesan istimewa — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Malay: kesan khas — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Māori: ata mariko — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Polish: efekty specjalne — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Portuguese: efeito especial — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Romanian: efect special — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Russian: спецэффе́кт (specɛffékt) — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Spanish: efectos especiales — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Swedish: specialeffekt — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means
  • Turkish: özel efekt — an effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means