Dictionary

special relationship en · NOUN

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, qualifier:originally) A political and diplomatic relationship between two countries that is particularly close and is considered to be based on deep historical and ideological ties rather than merely common interests; especially: ▸ The relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom since World War II.
   • On the table of the games room in which they had been penned, there were plates of sandwiches and biscuits. Just not for them. They were only for the US press corps. The Brits had to bring a packed lunch. Clearly, the special relationship still has a way to go. 2025 July 28, John Crace, “Sidekick Starmer can’t get a word in as The Donald dominates world’s most one-sided double act”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
   • Very satisfactory indeed. We got what we came for, and our special relationship is still very special. 2003, Richard Curtis, Love Actually, spoken by US president (Billy Bob Thornton):
2. (also, idiomatic, often) A political and diplomatic relationship between two countries that is particularly close and is considered to be based on deep historical and ideological ties rather than merely common interests; especially: ▸ The relationship between the United States and Israel since the 1960s.
   • While Trump’s statement is obvious – the “special relationship” is between Israel and the US, not between Trump and Netanyahu, some people argued that the president was giving Netanyahu the cold shoulder. 2019 September 19, Omri Nahmias, “US-Israel Ties: ‘The relations are between our countries’”, in Jerusalem Post:
   • The relationship between the United States and Israel has reached a critical juncture, one that could jeopardize more than six decades of a deep, strategic, diplomatic and values-based partnership that over time earned the designation of a “special relationship.” 2025 May 12, Abraham Ben Zvi, “Israel's special relationship with US at risk”, in Israel Hayom:
   • A fraying special relationship? 2025 May 5, Tom Bateman et al., “Americans used to be steadfast in their support for Israel. Those days are gone”, in www.bbc.com:
   • Mearsheimer and Walt argue that the special relationship is in neither nation’s best interest, as the lobby prevents America being an honest broker in resolving Middle East conflict [...]. 2018, Lee Marsden, “Religion”, in Michael Cox & Doug Stokes, editor, US Foreign Policy, 3rd edition, Oxford University Press, page 314:
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see special, relationship.

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