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

At the Blue Note, Jean performs a kind of Haitian exceptionalism: a sensorially rich, festal theater that serves as a necessary counterweight to the country’s grim realities of poverty and political neglect.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

Washington is so tied up with the narrative of American greatness and exceptionalism that some people may think it’s wrong to probe him too deeply.

From Slate • Feb. 16, 2026

Deutsche Bank has maintained a dollar-bearish view for a while, predicated on its declining exceptionalism in terms of its comparative yield advantage, growth prospects and that safe-haven reputation.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 12, 2026

There are fears that renaming KwaZulu-Natal would create a kind of exceptionalism that could lead to more trouble in the ethnically diverse country which has 11 official languages.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 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