Word
exceptional
Phoneticsex·cep·tion·al, stress on the second syllable
US/ɪkˈsɛpʃənəɫ/
UK/ɛksˈɛpʃənəl/
Definitions
01unusually good
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. much better than what is usual or expected.
adj. surpassing the average in quality or ability; superior.
“The young pianist gave an exceptional performance that moved the entire audience.”
“The chef's exceptional attention to detail transformed a simple dish into a culinary masterpiece that justified the restaurant's high prices.”
Synonyms
02unusual or rare
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very unusual and not happening often.
adj. forming an exception to the normal rule or pattern; statistically rare.
“The company will only allow a refund in exceptional circumstances.”
“The court granted an appeal only because the legal errors in the original trial were truly exceptional.”
Synonyms
03special educational needs
C1 · Advanced Education Technical · Formal
adj. used to describe children who need special help at school because they are very gifted or have disabilities.
adj. referring to students who require specialised instructional programmes due to physical, mental, or emotional disabilities, or giftedness.
“The school provides extra resources for exceptional children to help them reach their full potential.”
“The district's budget for exceptional learners includes funding for both advanced placement courses and specialised speech therapy services.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun 'student', 'child', or 'learner'.
Teaching tip
In modern education, this is a neutral umbrella term for both gifted students and those with learning challenges.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “exceptional” in context.
Verb
01. possess exceptional skills
“The new lead developer possesses exceptional skills in cloud architecture.”
verb + adj + noun
02. show exceptional promise
“The researchers believe the new drug shows exceptional promise in treating the disease.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
03. exceptional circumstances
“The deadline will only be extended under exceptional circumstances, such as a medical emergency.”
adj + noun
04. exceptional for the region
“The heavy snowfall in October was quite exceptional for the region.”
adj + prep
05. exceptional talent
“From a very early age, she demonstrated an exceptional talent for mathematics.”
adj + noun
06. truly exceptional
“The young pianist gave a truly exceptional performance that left the audience in awe.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. quality of exceptional beauty
“The national park is famous for its rugged landscape and a quality of exceptional beauty.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“The heat is not confined to Europe as Japan and the Republic of Korea recorded exceptional and record-breaking temperatures last week, as did other parts of Asia, the Middle East and Latin America .” “Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing, unless in exceptional circumstances such as domestic abuse cases.” “In the UK, the UV index would typically be around 5-6 during the summer, with a maximum of 8 only in exceptional circumstances.” Etymology
From exception + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
PREPOSITION
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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