exceptionalism

noun ex·cep·tion·al·ism \ ik-ˈsep-shnə-ˌli-zəm , -shə-nə- \

|Updated on: 5 Jun 2018

Definition of exceptionalism

: the condition of being different from the norm; also : a theory expounding the exceptionalism especially of a nation or region

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exceptionalist

play \ik-ˈsep-shnə-list, -shə-nə-\ adjective

Recent Examples of exceptionalism from the Web

And yet for all the ink spilled by so many excellent journalists — from The Times’s own Neil Irwin to Vox’s Matt Yglesias, Bloomberg’s Noah Smith and many others — America is doubling down on its exceptionalism.

— New York Times, "The Profound Social Cost of American Exceptionalism," 29 May 2018
Civics teachers should avoid bombarding this teachable moment with stories of immigrant exceptionalism and model minorities.

— valerie strauss, Washington Post, "How civics teachers can talk to students about Trump’s racist comments," 16 Jan. 2018
This is a curiously American posture that shows how exceptionalism sometimes looks like arrogance.

— ted rall, WSJ, "Talks With the U.S. Are Not a Reward," 5 Apr. 2018
Its ubiquity, too, inflamed the kind of lazy criticism that seeks to invalidate the precision, thunder, and totality of artistic exceptionalism (this is especially true when cultivated outside the white mainstream).

— jason parham, WIRED, "Beyoncé, Kendrick, Kanye, and How the World Seeks to Limit Black Genius," 20 Apr. 2018
The Recovering is a sprawling, compelling, fiercely ambitious book that considers excess with full control, and strives for both exceptionalism and utility at the same time.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "Writing and Alcohol: A Reckoning," 6 Apr. 2018
But lampreys’ exceptionalism in this respect has just been challenged.

— The Economist, "Three-eyed lizards are not uncommon. Four-eyed ones are a novelty," 5 Apr. 2018
Instead, my mind and spirit soared during moments that validated my fallibility, my lack of exceptionalism and our common, grotesque humanity.

— myriam gurba, Time, "Why I Use Humor When Talking About My Sexual Assault," 30 Mar. 2018
Rhodes says, as if anyone is arguing that American exceptionalism equals steamrolling other countries like Hitler.

— kyle smith, National Review, "The Final Year Reveals the Obama Administration’s Naïvety and Arrogance," 23 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exceptionalism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.