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definitions

exceptional

[ ik-sep-shuh-nl ]
/ ɪkˈsɛp ʃə 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)
  1. being intellectually gifted.
  2. being physically or especially mentally disabled to an extent that special schooling is required.

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Nearby words

  1. excepted,
  2. excepting,
  3. exception,
  4. exception proves the rule, the,
  5. exceptionable,
  6. exceptionalism,
  7. exceptive,
  8. excerpt,
  9. excerpta,
  10. excess

Origin of exceptional

First recorded in 1840–50; exception + -al1
SYNONYMS FOR exceptional
1. uncommon, singular, strange, unnatural, aberrant, anomalous. See irregular.
ANTONYMS FOR exceptional
2. average.
Related forms
Can be confusedexceptionable exceptional
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for exceptionality

exceptional

/ (ɪkˈsɛpʃənəl) /

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper