Exceptional: meaning, definitions and examples

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exceptional

[ɪkˈsɛpʃ(ə)n(ə)l ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

in a positive way

Unusually good; outstanding. Exceptional is used to describe something that is much better than average.

Synonyms

excellent, extraordinary, outstanding, remarkable, superb.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
exceptional	Used to describe someone or something far above the usual in quality. Often implies rarity or uniqueness. Her exceptional talent was evident from a young age. This is an exceptional case that requires special attention.
outstanding	Used to indicate someone or something that stands out significantly from the rest, often due to excellence in a particular area. His outstanding contributions to the field were recognized with an award. The student's performance was outstanding this semester.
extraordinary	Used to describe something very unusual or remarkable, often astonishing. She had an extraordinary ability to understand complex concepts quickly. The team made an extraordinary effort to win the championship.
remarkable	Used to highlight something surprising or worthy of attention due to its notable quality. Her recovery from the illness was remarkable. The museum has a remarkable collection of ancient artifacts.
superb	Used to describe something that is of the highest possible quality or extremely good. The chef prepared a superb dinner for the guests. Her performance was simply superb; everyone was impressed.
excellent	Used to indicate very high quality, especially in terms of performance or results. He received excellent grades on his exams. The meal was excellent, far better than expected.

Examples of usage

His performance in the exam was exceptional, he scored the highest marks in the class.
The service at this restaurant is exceptional, I have never experienced such attention to detail before.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

in a negative way

Unusually bad; unacceptable. Exceptional is used to describe something that is much worse than average.

Synonyms

abysmal, appalling, atrocious, horrendous, unacceptable.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
exceptional	Used to describe something extremely good or outstanding, often better than expected. Her performance in the play was exceptional The service at this hotel is exceptional
unacceptable	Used for something not satisfactory or not allowed, indicating it does not meet standards or expectations. His behavior at the meeting was unacceptable The delay in response time is unacceptable
abysmal	Used to describe something extremely bad or of very low quality. The quality of the product was abysmal His performance in the game was abysmal
atrocious	Used for something extremely evil, cruel, or brutal, often worse than 'appalling'. The crime was simply atrocious Their treatment of the prisoners was atrocious
appalling	Used when something is shockingly bad or horrifying, often causing disgust or fear. The living conditions in that area are appalling The news of the disaster was appalling
horrendous	Used to describe something extremely unpleasant, horrifying, or terrible. The accident was horrendous The weather today has been horrendous

Examples of usage

The company's behavior towards its employees was exceptional, leading to a high turnover rate.
Her attitude towards her colleagues was exceptional, creating a toxic work environment.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'excipere', meaning 'to take out', which relates to being taken out from the ordinary.
In Middle English, the term evolved to refer to individuals or things that were set apart or excluded from the normal group.

Education

In educational contexts, 'exceptional' often describes students who show outstanding abilities or talents, such as gifted or talented programs.
Exceptional students sometimes require specialized teaching strategies to meet their unique learning needs.

Psychology

Research shows that individuals with exceptional skills often exhibit high levels of motivation and engagement in their areas of expertise.
Exceptional performances can stem from both inherent talent and deliberate practice, debunking the myth that talent alone is sufficient.

Pop Culture

'Exceptional' individuals are often celebrated in media, with stories highlighting unique talents, like movie characters or athletes who break records.
The term is sometimes used in music, referring to artists whose work differs from mainstream trends, earning them a dedicated following.

Business

In the business world, an exceptional team is one that performs above expectations and achieves remarkable results.
Companies often seek exceptional talent to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge in their industries.

Translations

Translations of the word "exceptional" in other languages:

🇵🇹 excepcional

🇮🇳 असाधारण

🇩🇪 ausgezeichnet

🇮🇩 luar biasa

🇺🇦 винятковий

🇵🇱 wyjątkowy

🇯🇵 例外的な

🇫🇷 exceptionnel

🇪🇸 excepcional

🇹🇷 istisnai

🇰🇷 예외적인

🇸🇦 استثنائي

🇨🇿 výjimečný

🇸🇰 výnimočný

🇨🇳 例外的

🇸🇮 izjemen

🇮🇸 óvenjulegur

🇰🇿 ерекше

🇬🇪 გამორჩეული

🇦🇿 nadir

🇲🇽 excepcional

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,691, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.

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4688 dual
4689 heirs
4690 floating
4691 exceptional
4692 beef
4693 compression
4694 resting
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