spetsialnyy

Spetsialnyy (Russian: Специальный) is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia. The name derives from spetsialnyy, an adjective meaning "special" or "special-purpose," and historically was used for places established to support a particular facility, project, or institution.

These localities are typically small rural settlements, classified in official terms as settlements (posyolok) or, less commonly, villages (selo). They are usually administratively subordinated to a district (raion) within a federal subject and are part of a larger municipal formation, such as a rural settlement. Population figures for such places are generally modest, often ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred residents, and demographic data may be updated only in periodic censuses or local registrations.

Historically, many Spetsialnyy settlements were created or named during the Soviet era to house workers and management for a nearby industrial, military, or research facility. After restructuring, some retained the name while the associated facility changed function or ceased operations. The name thus commonly signals a functional origin, even if the original purpose is no longer active.

Variations of the toponym include feminine Spetsialnaya and neuter Spetsialnoye, reflecting grammatical agreement with the noun they modify in Russian. The form Spetsialnyy is used for masculine-named localities, while related forms may appear in other place names. As a non-centralized toponym, Spetsialnyy does not denote a single, prominent locality but rather a set of separate settlements with distinct local histories.