exceptional

[ik-sep-shuh-nl]

adjective

forming an exception or rare instance; unusual; extraordinary: The warm weather was exceptional for January.

unusually excellent; superior: an exceptional violinist.

Education. (of a child)

being intellectually gifted.
being physically or especially mentally disabled to an extent that special schooling is required.

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 for exceptional

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

Antonyms for exceptional

2. average.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for exceptionality

exceptional

adjective

forming an exception; not ordinary

having much more than average intelligence, ability, or skill

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.