exceptional

adjective

ex·​cep·​tion·​al ik-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce exceptional (audio)
1
: forming an exception : rare
an exceptional number of rainy days
2
: better than average : superior
exceptional skill
3
: deviating from the norm: such as
a
: having above or below average intelligence
b
: physically disabled
exceptionality noun
exceptionalness noun

Examples of exceptional in a Sentence

We're bending the rules for this exceptional situation. an exceptional student in math The seafood dishes at this restaurant are exceptional. a separate school for exceptional children
Recent Examples on the Web For die-hard baseball fans, this may not come as a shock, given the exceptional bullpens of teams like the Guardians and the Braves. Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 Almost 40 years later, in 2022, Tears for Fears entered the Top 10 once again with their exceptional album, The Tipping Point. Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 22 Oct. 2024 Beau, however, thought the killer Broadway moves were exceptional. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2024 All bandas and the communal lounge, dining area, and pool have exceptional views, either over the mountain peaks or towards the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kate Lewis, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for exceptional 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exceptional.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exceptional was in 1787

Dictionary Entries Near exceptional

Cite this Entry

“Exceptional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exceptional. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

exceptional

adjective
ex·​cep·​tion·​al ik-ˈsep-shnəl How to pronounce exceptional (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
1
: forming an exception : being unusual
an exceptional amount of rain
2
: better than average : superior
an exceptional student in math
exceptionally
adverb
exceptionalness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on exceptional

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