Special vs. Specialist — What's the Difference?

Surpassing what is common or usual; exceptional

A person who concentrates primarily on a particular subject or activity; a person highly skilled in a specific and restricted field

Distinct among others of a kind

Possessing or involving detailed knowledge or study of a restricted topic

Primary

One who is devoted to a particular occupation or branch of study or research

Peculiar to a specific person or thing; particular

A physician whose practice is limited to a particular branch of medicine or surgery, especially one who is certified by a board of physicians

Having a limited or specific function, application, or scope

Any of several noncommissioned ranks in the US Army that correspond to that of corporal through sergeant first class.

Arranged for a particular occasion or purpose

A species with narrow habitat or food requirements

Regarded with particular affection and admiration

(British) Specialised, involving detailed knowledge of a restricted topic.

Additional; extra

Someone who is an expert in, or devoted to, some specific branch of study or research.

Something arranged, issued, or appropriated to a particular service or occasion

(medicine) A physician whose practice is limited to a particular branch of medicine or surgery.

A featured attraction, such as a reduced price

Any of several non-commissioned ranks corresponding to that of corporal.

A single television production that features a specific work, a given topic, or a particular performer.

An organism that is specialized for a particular environment.

Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.

A stenotopic species.

Of particular personal interest or value; dear; beloved.

One who devotes himself to some specialty; as, a medical specialist, one who devotes himself to diseases of particular parts of the body, as the eye, the ear, the nerves, etc.

(euphemistic) Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.

An expert who is devoted to one occupation or branch of learning

Constituting or relating to a species.

Practices one branch of medicine

Chief in excellence.

(military) Of or related to unconventional warfare.

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

One of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price at a restaurant.

(broadcasting) Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.

A special constable.

Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.

Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.

(journalism) A correspondent; a journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.

(journalism) A dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.

(theater) A light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.

(law) A person appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.

(nursing) To supervise a patient one-on-one.

Of or pertaining to a species; constituting a species or sort.

Particular; peculiar; different from others; extraordinary; uncommon.

Appropriate; designed for a particular purpose, occasion, or person; as, a special act of Parliament or of Congress; a special sermon.

Limited in range; confined to a definite field of action, investigation, or discussion; as, a special dictionary of commercial terms; a special branch of study.

Chief in excellence.

A particular.

One appointed for a special service or occasion.

A special offering (usually temporary and at a reduced price) that is featured in advertising;

A dish or meal given prominence in e.g. a restaurant

A television production that features a particular person or work or topic;

Unique or specific to a person or thing or category;

For a special service or occasion;

Surpassing what is common or usual or expected;

Adapted to or reserved for a particular purpose;

Having a specific function or scope;

First and most important;

Added to a regular schedule;