adv · 5 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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/ˈspɛʃəli/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S P EH1 SH AH0 L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:S P EH1 SH L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
For a special purpose, person, or occasion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
We had this cake made specially for your birthday.
The train is waiting specially for a high-ranking diplomat.
The school is specially for any child whose schooling was disrupted by illness.
I had my insoles specially made.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
extremely
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, proscribed
Examples
She's specially good at running.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
in particular
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, proscribed
Examples
I love all animals, specially cute furry ones.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adverb
Meaning 4
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he was particularly fussy about spelling
a particularly gruesome attack
under peculiarly tragic circumstances
an especially (or specially) cautious approach to the danger
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: particularly, peculiarly, especially
Antonyms: none provided
5
adverb
Meaning 5
in a special manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a specially arranged dinner
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: especially
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English specialli, specially, equivalent to special + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
41 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Northern Amami Ōshima:
わざわざ
(wazawaza)
— for a special purpose
Bulgarian:
специално
(specialno)
— for a special purpose
Bulgarian:
нарочно
(naročno)
— for a special purpose
Catalan:
especialment
— for a special purpose
Chinese:
特意
(tèyì)
— for a special purpose
Chinese:
特地
(tèdì)
— for a special purpose
Esperanto:
speciale
— for a special purpose
Esperanto:
spefice
— for a special purpose
Finnish:
erityisesti
— for a special purpose
French:
particulièrement
— for a special purpose
French:
spécialement
— for a special purpose
Galician:
especialmente
— for a special purpose
German:
speziell
— for a special purpose
Hungarian:
külön
— for a special purpose
Hungarian:
kimondottan
— for a special purpose
Hungarian:
kifejezetten
— for a special purpose
Hungarian:
direkt
— for a special purpose
Japanese:
わざわざ
(wazawaza)
— for a special purpose
Korean:
일부러
(ilbureo)
— for a special purpose
Kunigami:
わじゃーわじゃー
(wajāwajā)
— for a special purpose
Miyako:
うったーてぃー わじゃわじゃ
(Ikema Nishihara dialect)
— for a special purpose
Okinawan:
うったーてぃ
(uttāti)
— for a special purpose
Okinawan:
わちゃこーげーじ
(wachakōgēji)
— for a special purpose
Okinawan:
わざわざ
(wazawaza)
— for a special purpose
Okinoerabu:
わざわざ
(wazawaza)
— for a special purpose
Polish:
specjalnie
— for a special purpose
Portuguese:
especialmente
— for a special purpose
Russian:
специа́льно
(speciálʹno)
— for a special purpose
Spanish:
especialmente
— for a special purpose
Spanish:
específicamente
— for a special purpose
Tokunoshima:
わざわざ
(wazawaza)
— for a special purpose
Ukrainian:
спеціа́льно
(speciálʹno)
— for a special purpose
Yaeyama:
わざわざ
(wazawaza)
— for a special purpose
Yaeyama:
うたーでぃ
(utādi)
— for a special purpose
Yaeyama:
たまさか
(tamasaka)
— for a special purpose
Yaeyama:
たまたま
(tamatama)
— for a special purpose
Yaeyama:
うざとぅ
(uzatu)
— for a special purpose
Yonaguni:
ばだばだ
(badabada)
— for a special purpose
Yoron:
あしくら
(ashikura)
— for a special purpose
Yoron:
あしくらたでぃ
(ashikura tadi)
— for a special purpose
