special effect

[ spesh-uhl i-fekt ]

noun

, Movies, Television.

1. Usually special effects. a video or audio illusion in film or other media, created with computer-generated images, prosthetic makeup, pyrotechnics, etc. : SFX

Word History and Origins

Origin of special effect¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

For “Twisters,” that was the special effects that made the tornadoes look realistic.

From Los Angeles Times

He is a make-believe tough guy, built out of special effects and the comedic acting skills of Bruce Willis.

From Salon

How did you coordinate the division of labor with the special effects team?

From Los Angeles Times

An experimenter obsessed with special effects and the dramatic power they can exert in cinema, Zemeckis is always trying something new, especially with motion-capture technology.

From Los Angeles Times

Ultimately, though, it’s not the supporting characters, stories, set pieces or special effects that make “Venom” what it is, but rather the chemistry that Hardy has with himself as this dual, dueling characters.

From Los Angeles Times