Standard Lemma guide

exceptionalism

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state of being special, exceptional or unique.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The belief that something (a nation, species etc.) is exceptional, superior, or does not conform to an established norm.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A philosophy of prevention or of intervention.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1éǵh Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h1éǵhs Proto-Italic *eks Latin ex Latin ex- substratebor.? Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *kapyéti Proto-Italic *kapjō Old Latin kapiō Latin capiō Latin excipiō Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin exceptiōder. Old French excepcion Anglo-Norman excepciounbor. Middle English exception English exception English -al English exceptional Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English exceptionalism From exceptional + -ism.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Exzeptionalismus — state of being exceptional
  • Macedonian: исклучителност (isklučitelnost) — state of being exceptional
  • Portuguese: excepcionalismo — state of being exceptional
  • Chinese Mandarin: 例外論 /例外论 (lìwàilùn) — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • Chinese Mandarin: 例外主義 /例外主义 (lìwài zhǔyì) — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • Finnish: ekseptionalismi — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • French: exceptionnalisme — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • German: Exzeptionalismus — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • Indonesian: eksepsionalisme — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • Korean: 예외주의 (ye'oejuui) — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • Persian: استثناگرایی — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • Portuguese: excepcionalismo — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • Russian: национальная исключительность (nacionalʹnaja isključitelʹnostʹ) — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • Spanish: excepcionalismo — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • Turkish: istisnacılık — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • Vietnamese: chủ nghĩa ngoại lệ — belief that a particular nation does not conform to an established norm
  • Portuguese: excepcionalismo — philosophy of prevention or of intervention