different between unusual vs exceptional

English

Alternative forms

• unusuall (obsolete)

Etymology

From un- +? usual.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?ju??u?l/, /?n?ju???l/

Adjective

unusual (comparative more unusual, superlative most unusual)

1. Not usual, out of the ordinary

   Synonyms: uncommon, rare, extraordinary, remarkable; see also Thesaurus:strange

   Antonyms: normal, usual, common, ordinary

Derived terms

• unusually
• unusualness

Translations

Noun

unusual (plural unusuals)

1. Something that is unusual; an anomaly.
   • 1905, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Return of Sherlock Holmes

     I should say that it was very unusual for such men to leave a bottle half empty. How do all these unusuals strike you, Watson?

   • 1939, Pauline Redmond, Wilfrid Redmond, Business paper writing, a career (page 154)

     Two of these unusuals have been selected for special effort throughout the season. They are kneeling pads and water-proof garden gloves. During the bulb planting season they are displayed with the bulbs […]

References

• unusual at OneLook Dictionary Search

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.