special directive; special order
Used for an official command or instruction issued by a higher authority, often in governmental, military, or corporate settings.
首相は特命を下した。
The prime minister issued a special directive.
special mission; special appointment
Refers to a task or assignment given to a specific person or group, often with a sense of importance or urgency. Also used for a specially appointed position.
彼は特命を受けて海外に派遣された。
He was dispatched overseas on a special mission.
minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary
ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary
Compound of 特 (special) and 命 (order, command, life). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word follows standard Sino-Japanese compounding patterns.