exceptional

[ik-sep-shuh-nl]

adjective

1. forming an exception or rare instance; unusual; extraordinary.

   The warm weather was exceptional for January.

   Synonyms: anomalous, aberrant, unnatural, strange, singular, uncommon

2. unusually excellent; superior.

   an exceptional violinist.

   Antonyms: ordinary, average

3. Education.,  (of a child)

   1. being intellectually gifted.

   2. being physically or especially mentally disabled to an extent that special schooling is required.

exceptional

/ ɪkˈsɛpʃənəl /

adjective

1. forming an exception; not ordinary

2. having much more than average intelligence, ability, or skill

Other Word Forms

• exceptionally adverb
• exceptionality noun
• exceptionalness noun
• nonexceptional adjective
• preexceptional adjective
• quasi-exceptional adjective
• superexceptional adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exceptional¹

First recorded in 1840–50; exception + -al ¹

Synonym Study

See irregular.

Example Sentences

The ministry said it took the “highly exceptional” measure to remove Chinese control of the company late last month, after picking up “signals of serious governance shortcomings and actions within Nexperia.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But what is exceptional is the large-scale nature of the demands.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The result is what the listing description hailed as a “truly exceptional home” that features 11 rooms in total across two floors and offers “breathtaking views” of Central Park and the New York City skyline.

Read more on MarketWatch

The law is designed to allow the Hague to intervene in companies under exceptional circumstances.

Read more on BBC

“The U.S. Treasury is prepared, immediately,” Mr. Bessent wrote, “to take whatever exceptional measures are warranted to provide stability to markets.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• extraordinary 
• notable 
• noteworthy 
• odd 
• phenomenal 
• rare 
• remarkable 
• singular 
• special 
• strange 
• uncommon 
• unheard-of 
• unique 
• unprecedented 
• unusual