exceptionalism

American  

[ik-sep-shuh-nl-iz-uhm] / ɪkˈsɛp ʃə nlˌɪz əm /

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.

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exceptionalism British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of exceptionalism

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

exceptionalism

The author calls this “American exemplarism,” the foreign-policy twin of exceptionalism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

"There's this thing called Mancunian exceptionalism, which is 'we're the best city in the world and everyone else can do one.'"

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

We are on the cusp of a period of European exceptionalism.

From Barron's ● Apr. 16, 2026

The important question, the analysts wrote, is whether U.S. exceptionalism is going to return in the next few months.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 13, 2026

I propose to take our countrymen’s claims of American exceptionalism seriously, which is to say I propose subjecting our country to an exceptional moral standard.

From "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates