Meaning & use
special arrangement
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
a plan or agreement made for a particular purpose, different from what is usual.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a special arrangement' or 'special arrangements'.
Patterns
- make a special arrangement
- special arrangement for something
- special arrangement with someone
The school made a special arrangement for students who travel long distances.
We have a special arrangement with the hotel to use their meeting room.
Special arrangements were needed because the elevator was broken.
Word forms
| plural | special arrangements |
|---|
Common combinations
- make a special arrangement
- They made a special arrangement to allow him to take the exam early.
- special arrangement for
- There is a special arrangement for disabled visitors.
- special arrangement with
- The company has a special arrangement with a local bank.
- by special arrangement
- The gallery opens by special arrangement for private groups.
Synonyms and how they differ
- special provision
- More formal and often used in legal or official contexts; it emphasizes supplying what is needed rather than making a plan.
- exception
- Focuses on not following the usual rule, while 'special arrangement' focuses on the plan itself.
Word family
- arrange verb
- to plan or organize something
- arrangement noun
- a plan or preparation
Commonly confused: special arrangement or special treatment?
special arrangement vs special treatment
This means being treated differently, often unfairly, not a planned agreement.
Practice
The museum opens early ______ special arrangement for school groups.
Choose one answer.
'By special arrangement' is the fixed phrase meaning 'because a special plan was made'. 'With' would need a person or organization after it, and 'for' would change the meaning to 'for the purpose of'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “special arrangement”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.