exceptional
/ɪkˈsɛpʃənəl/ · ek·sɛp·shə·nəl
noun
- An exception; something set apart or having an exceptional value. The court made an exception for the elderly during the evacuation.
adjective
- Forming an exception; not ordinary; uncommon; rare. What an exceptional flower!
- Better than the average; superior due to exception or rarity. The quality of the beer was exceptional.
- Corresponding to something of lower dimension under a birational correspondence. An exceptional curve on a surface is a rational curve with self‑intersection –1.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Did you know? The word "exceptional" was first recorded in the 15th century, originally meaning "set apart"; its use to denote superiority emerged in the 17th century.