exceptionalism

[ik-sep-shuh-nl-iz-uhm]

noun

1. the condition of being exceptional; uniqueness.

2. the study of the unique and exceptional.

3. a theory that a nation, region, or political system is exceptional and does not conform to the norm.

exceptionalism

/ ɪkˈsɛpʃənəlɪzəm /

noun

1. an attitude to other countries, cultures, etc based on the idea of being quite distinct from, and often superior to, them in vital ways

Word History and Origins

Origin of exceptionalism¹

First recorded in 1925–30; exceptional ( def. ) + -ism ( def. )

Example Sentences

In the opinion of Lakos-Bujas and his colleagues, American exceptionalism isn’t a question, with the U.S. expected to remain “the world’s growth engine,” next year, driven by a resilient economy and an AI-driven supercycle.

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The president views the Games as “a premier opportunity to showcase American exceptionalism,” according to a White House statement.

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Market analyst David Roche called it “the end of U.S. exceptionalism.”

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He warned that American exceptionalism likely won’t continue, noting that investors often make the mistake of being slow to change their allocations after long periods of outperformance.

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There is an “aspiration and demand to be a part of the U.S. growth story and U.S. exceptionalism,” Gangwani said, referring to the term used to describe America’s unique and special role in the world relative to other nations.

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