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
Synonym Usage
See irregular.
Other Word Forms
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.
It recognizes astronauts whose achievements have made an exceptional contribution to the nation's space program.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
For his part, Noseda has done an exceptional job in championing major Black composers at home and on record.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
Often duded up in a cowboy hat and suspenders, Eatherly had a knack for marketing and proved to be an exceptional conman.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
JD Sports cut its fiscal 2027 guidance for adjusted pretax profit—the company’s preferred metric, which strips out exceptional and other one-off items—due to underlying sales trends and a promotional backdrop in the sector.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Rowan had never been an exceptional student—but that was by design.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
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.
