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.
He noted there had been "an exceptional level of interest in Classics and in ancient studies" in recent years, coinciding with the growing fanfare around Nolan's movie.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
On an adjusted basis, which excludes one-off costs and exceptional items, earnings came to $2.51 a share.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Once the charcoal had been confirmed, researchers received exceptional authorization to remove extremely small samples for carbon-14 dating.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
“We remain focused on delivering exceptional value and service to our contract and policyholders and their financial representatives,” the statement added.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
A red-haired woman who proved to be exceptional at multitasking greeted us with a smile and a slight nod.
From "Because of Mr. Terupt" by Rob Buyea
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.
