exceptionalism

noun

ex·​cep·​tion·​al·​ism ik-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nə-ˌli-zəm 

: the condition of being different from the norm

also : a theory expounding the exceptionalism especially of a nation or region

exceptionalist

ik-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nə-list 

adjective

Examples of exceptionalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dollar declined for the second quarter in a row as U.S. exceptionalism remains challenged amid erratic policy backdrop from the Trump administration. —Sean Conlon,pia Singh, CNBC, 29 June 2025

Like the exceptionalism question, pollsters ask about optimism in different ways, and in most of them, including a new poll from Quinnipiac released last week, optimism beats pessimism. —Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

The future of exchanges: Global capital flows in the age of Trump, tariffs and trade wars CNBC's Martin Soong hosts a roundtable in Singapore with stock exchange leaders from around the world to discuss how U.S. exceptionalism is reshaping global capital flows. —Ian King, CNBC, 25 June 2025

The assassination and attempted assassination of two Minnesota legislators should shatter, once and for all, the myth of Minnesota exceptionalism. —David Schultz, New York Daily News, 17 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for exceptionalism

• absolutism
• adventurism
• aestheticism
• africanism
• agnosticism
• alcoholism
• anabolism
• anachronism
• anglicanism
• antagonism
• arianism
• asceticism