Specific vs. Special — What's the Difference?

Clearly defined or identified

Surpassing what is common or usual; exceptional

Relating to species or a species

Distinct among others of a kind

(of a duty or a tax) levied at a fixed rate per physical unit of the thing taxed, regardless of its price.

Primary

Of or denoting a number equal to the ratio of the value of some property of a given substance to the value of the same property of some other substance used as a reference, such as water, or of a vacuum, under equivalent conditions

Peculiar to a specific person or thing; particular

A medicine or remedy effective in treating a particular disease or part of the body

Having a limited or specific function, application, or scope

A precise detail

Arranged for a particular occasion or purpose

Explicitly set forth; definite

Regarded with particular affection and admiration

Clear or detailed in communicating

Additional; extra

Limited, distinctive, or unique

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

Intended for, applying to, or acting on a particular thing

A featured attraction, such as a reduced price

Concerned particularly with the subject specified. Often used in combination

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

Relating to, characterizing, or distinguishing a species

Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.

Designating a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition.

Of particular personal interest or value; dear; beloved.

Having a remedial influence or effect on a particular disease.

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

(Immunology) Having an affinity limited to a particular antibody or antigen.

Constituting or relating to a species.

Designating a customs charge levied on merchandise by unit or weight rather than according to value.

Chief in excellence.

Designating a commodity rate applicable to the transportation of a single commodity between named points.

(military) Of or related to unconventional warfare.

Something particularly fitted to a use or purpose.

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

A remedy intended for a particular ailment or disorder.

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

A distinguishing quality or attribute.

(broadcasting) Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.

Specifics Distinct items or details; particulars.

A special constable.

Explicit or definite.

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

Pertaining to a species, as a taxon or taxa at the rank of species.

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

Special, distinctive or unique.

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

Intended for, or applying to, a particular thing.

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

Serving to identify a particular thing (often a disease or condition), with little risk of mistaking something else for it.

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

Being a remedy for a particular disease on a deeper level, rather than just masking the symptoms

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

(immunology) limited to a particular antibody or antigen.

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

(physics) of a value divided by mass (e.g. specific orbital energy)

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

(physics) similarly referring to a value divided by any measure which acts to standardize it (e.g. thrust specific fuel consumption, referring to fuel consumption divided by thrust)

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

(physics) a measure compared with a standard reference value by division, to produce a ratio without unit or dimension (e.g. specific refractive index is a pure number, and is relative to that of air)

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

A distinguishing attribute or quality.

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.

A remedy for a specific disease or condition.

Chief in excellence.

Specification

A particular.

(in the plural) The details; particulars.

One appointed for a special service or occasion.

Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug; the specific distinction between virtue and vice.

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

Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement.

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

Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaptation, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria.

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

Anything having peculiar adaption to the purpose to which it is applied.

Unique or specific to a person or thing or category;

A fact about some part (as opposed to general);

For a special service or occasion;

A medicine that has a mitigating effect on a specific disease;

Surpassing what is common or usual or expected;

(sometimes followed by `to') applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique;

Adapted to or reserved for a particular purpose;

Stated explicitly or in detail;

Having a specific function or scope;

Relating to or distinguishing or constituting a taxonomic species;

First and most important;

Being or affecting a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition; used also of stains or dyes used in making microscope slides;

Added to a regular schedule;