exceptional

UK: /ɪkˈsɛpʃən^əl/ US: /ɪkˈsɛpʃənəl/ ,(ik sep′shə nl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ex•cep•tion•al /ɪkˈsɛpʃənəl/   adj. 

1. forming an exception or rare instance;
   unusual;
   out of the ordinary:
   Getting snow on Halloween is exceptional.
2. unusually excellent;
   superior:
   The movie was pretty good, but not exceptional.
3. Education (of a schoolchild)
   • intellectually gifted.
   • physically or esp. mentally handicapped to an extent that special schooling is required.

ex•cep•tion•al•ly, adv. See -cep-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ex•cep•tion•al  (ik sep′shə nl), adj. 

1. forming an exception or rare instance;
   unusual;
   extraordinary:
   The warm weather was exceptional for January.
2. unusually excellent;
   superior:
   an exceptional violinist.
3. Education (of a child)
   • being intellectually gifted.
   • being physically or esp. mentally handicapped to an extent that special schooling is required.

• exception + -al¹ 1840–50

ex•cep′tion•al′i•ty, n. 
ex•cep′tion•al•ly, adv. 
ex•cep′tion•al•ness, n. 
Synonyms

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

Antonyms

• 2. . average.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

exceptional / ɪkˈsɛpʃən^əl/ adjective

1. forming an exception; not ordinary
2. having much more than average intelligence, ability, or skill

exˈceptionally adverb