# exceptional

/ɪkˈsɛpʃənəɫ/ (US) · /ɛksˈɛpʃənəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/exceptional
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. unusually good

adjective · CEFR B2

much better than what is usual or expected.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. unusual or rare

adjective · CEFR B2

very unusual and not happening often.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. special educational needs

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

used to describe children who need special help at school because they are very gifted or have disabilities.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The student showed exceptional talent in her music class.
- The school provides extra resources for students with exceptional abilities to ensure they remain challenged and engaged.
- While the entire cohort performed well, her thesis was considered exceptional for its rigorous methodology and the profound clarity of its original arguments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.