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exceptional

[ik-sep-shuh-nl]
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adjective
  1. forming an exception or rare instance; unusual; extraordinary: The warm weather was exceptional for January.
  2. unusually excellent; superior: an exceptional violinist.
  3. Education. (of a child)
    1. being intellectually gifted.
    2. being physically or especially mentally disabled to an extent that special schooling is required.
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Origin of exceptional

First recorded in 1840–50; exception + -al1
Related formsex·cep·tion·al·i·ty, nounex·cep·tion·al·ly, adverbex·cep·tion·al·ness, nounnon·ex·cep·tion·al, adjectivenon·ex·cep·tion·al·ly, adverbpre·ex·cep·tion·al, adjectivepre·ex·cep·tion·al·ly, adverbqua·si-ex·cep·tion·al, adjectivequa·si-ex·cep·tion·al·ly, adverbsu·per·ex·cep·tion·al, adjectivesu·per·ex·cep·tion·al·ly, adverb
Can be confusedexceptionable exceptional

Synonyms

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1. uncommon, singular, strange, unnatural, aberrant, anomalous. See irregular.

Antonyms

2. average.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for exceptionality

exceptional

adjective
  1. forming an exception; not ordinary
  2. having much more than average intelligence, ability, or skill
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Derived Formsexceptionally, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for exceptionality

exceptional

1846, from exception + -al (1). Related: exceptionally.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper