特聘 means 'specially appointed' and is used to describe someone who has been selected for a position based on exceptional qualifications, expertise, or reputation — not through standard hiring procedures. The character 特 (tè) means 'special' or 'extraordinary', while 聘 (pìn) means 'to hire' or 'to appoint', especially in formal or academic contexts. Together, they convey the idea of a deliberate, high-level recruitment decision.

This term is most commonly used in formal, institutional settings — such as universities appointing distinguished professors, research institutes bringing in leading scientists, or government agencies recruiting experts for special projects. It carries connotations of prestige, selectivity, and recognition of outstanding ability. While it can modify nouns directly (e.g., 特聘教授), it rarely stands alone as a noun and is almost never used in casual speech or informal job postings.