different between exceptional vs phenomenal

English

Etymology

exception +? -al

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?s?p??n?l/
• Hyphenation: ex?cep?tion?al

Adjective

exceptional (comparative more exceptional, superlative most exceptional)

1. Forming an exception; not ordinary; uncommon; rare.

   What an exceptional flower!

2. Better than the average; superior due to exception or rarity.

   The quality of the beer was exceptional.

3. (geometry) Corresponding to something of lower dimension under a birational correspondence.

   an exceptional curve; an exceptional divisor

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:excellent
• egregious (most often used negatively, however)

Antonyms

• (forming an exception): ordinary, categorical, common, general, usual
• (superior due to exception or rarity): ordinary, mediocre, commonplace

Derived terms

• exceptional space
• exceptionally
• exceptionalism

Translations

Noun

exceptional (plural exceptionals)

1. An exception, or something having an exceptional value
   • 1909, Pediatrics (volume 21, page 276)

     Above and beyond all these exceptionals, by reason of divergencies from the norms of mental and of physical status, there are quite a number of moral defectives.

English

Alternative forms

• phænomenal (archaic)

Etymology

phenomenon +? -al

Adjective

phenomenal (comparative more phenomenal, superlative most phenomenal)

1. (colloquial) Very remarkable; highly extraordinary; amazing.
2. (sciences) Perceptible by the senses through immediate experience.
3. (philosophy) Of or pertaining to the appearance of the world, as opposed to the ultimate nature of the world as it is in itself.

Synonyms

• (very remarkable): awesome (slang)

Derived terms

• phenomenal world
• transphenomenal

Translations

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “phenomenal”, in Online Etymology Dictionary