special case
Unusual situation warranting distinction
A special case is an instance that doesn't follow the general rule—an exception requiring different treatment or consideration.
In logic and mathematics, a special case is a specific example of a broader principle: The equation simplifies in the special case where x equals zero.
More loosely, calling something a special case can suggest it deserves unusual accommodation: He thinks he's a special case and the rules don't apply to him.
Departure from the expected
- aberrationDeviation from the norm
- deviationDeparture from expected path
- irregularityDeparture from standard
- odditySomething unusual or unexpected
quirk · rarity · peculiarity · outlier · one-off · freak occurrence · nonconformity · singularity
Formal surrender of rights
- dispensationOfficial permission to skip rules
- immunityProtected from harm
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
amnesty · clemency · reprieve · pardon · carve-out · grandfather clause · accommodation · variance
Having no equivalent
- sui generisOf its own kind
- unprecedentedNever having occurred before
- singularOne in number
- distinctiveReadily identifiable, set apart
bespoke · customized · tailored · individualized · personalized · made-to-order · custom · particular
Prior authoritative example
- jurisprudencePhilosophy governing legal systems
- rulingFormal legal determination
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- appellate decisionHigher court's judgment
court decision · judicial ruling · adjudication · litigation · verdict · doctrine · opinion · common law
anomaly
Departure from the expected
- aberrationDeviation from the norm
- deviationDeparture from expected path
- irregularityDeparture from standard
oddity · quirk · rarity · peculiarity · outlier · one-off · freak occurrence · nonconformity · singularity · variance
waiver
Formal surrender of rights
- dispensationOfficial permission to skip rules
- immunityProtected from harm
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
exoneration · amnesty · clemency · reprieve · pardon · carve-out · grandfather clause · accommodation · variance · relief
one-of-a-kind
Having no equivalent
- sui generisOf its own kind
- unprecedentedNever having occurred before
- singularOne in number
distinctive · bespoke · customized · tailored · individualized · personalized · made-to-order · custom · particular · specific
precedent
Prior authoritative example
- jurisprudencePhilosophy governing legal systems
- rulingFormal legal determination
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
appellate decision · court decision · judicial ruling · adjudication · litigation · verdict · doctrine · opinion · common law · judicial precedent
- Exceptionsexception, exemption, exclusion, anomaly, outlier
- Odditiescuriosity, curio, unusual, odd, strange
- casesbriefcase, suitcase, laptop sleeve, protective sleeve, pillbox
- edge casesedge cases, off-by-one, overflow, underflow, buffer overflow
- rarityrare, scarce, uncommon, infrequent, scant
- casebookcase, briefcase, lowercase, suitcase, uppercase
special casetypical case
Representative example
textbook case · par for the course · business as usual · nothing special
case, special, specialist, specials, specialize, specialized, specialists, specializes, specializing