exceptional
adjective
ex·cep·tion·al
ik-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nəl 
2
: better than average : superior
exceptional skill
3
: deviating from the norm: such as
a
: having above or below average intelligence
b
: physically disabled
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
From San Francisco to Seoul, these 58 extraordinary watering holes serve up exceptional cocktails, stunning design and world-class service.
—
Forbes Staff, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Barring an exceptional situation, such as an injury crisis, he is not expected to play regularly for the first team — despite appearing in five games this season and scoring his first senior goal in May.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 13 June 2025
Santi designer Krishna Choudhary’s exceptional access to historic stones.
—Jill Newman, Robb Report, 12 June 2025
But Harvard University has an exception for exceptional students.
—ArsTechnica, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for exceptional
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Forbes Staff, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Barring an exceptional situation, such as an injury crisis, he is not expected to play regularly for the first team — despite appearing in five games this season and scoring his first senior goal in May.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 13 June 2025
Santi designer Krishna Choudhary’s exceptional access to historic stones.
—Jill Newman, Robb Report, 12 June 2025
But Harvard University has an exception for exceptional students.
—ArsTechnica, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for exceptional
Cite this Entry
“Exceptional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exceptional. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exceptional
adjective
ex·cep·tion·al
ik-ˈsep-shnəl
-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
-ē
exceptionalness
noun
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