exceptional
Americanadjective
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forming an exception or rare instance; unusual; extraordinary.
The warm weather was exceptional for January.
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unusually excellent; superior.
an exceptional violinist.
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Education. (of a child)
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being intellectually gifted.
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being physically or especially mentally disabled to an extent that special schooling is required.
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adjective
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forming an exception; not ordinary
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having much more than average intelligence, ability, or skill
Related Words
See irregular.
Other Word Forms
- exceptionality noun
- exceptionally adverb
- exceptionalness noun
- nonexceptional adjective
- preexceptional adjective
- quasi-exceptional adjective
- superexceptional adjective
Etymology
Origin of exceptional
Explanation
Generally, exceptional is a compliment––"the concert was exceptional" means it was better than what could have been expected. But it can also just mean unusual. "Maria gets to skip gym, but hers is an exceptional case." Exceptional begins with the Latin prefix ex- 'out,' because something exceptional stands out in some way. In certain cases, exceptional can mean under-performing. Children with special educational needs are sometimes referred to in this way, as exceptional or special.
Vocabulary lists containing exceptional
Thumbs Up: Synonyms for "Good"
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Between the World and Me
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Because of Mr. Terupt
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Jones, whose mother was English and who headed east to famous rugby nursery Hartpury College aged 16, is an exceptional case however.
From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026
In a study published in Nature, scientists describe the exceptional preservation of a small, lizard-like reptile called Captorhinus aguti from the early Permian period.
From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026
“Jazz Fest is grateful to all law enforcement partners for their dedication and exceptional service in protecting our community,” the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival said in a Thursday statement.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
“With Paramount, we look forward to creating an exceptional combined company that will expand consumer choice and benefit the global creative talent community,” Warner Bros. said in the news release.
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
In all, Edward Tulane felt himself to be an exceptional specimen.
From "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
