Exceptionalism is the perception that a country, society, institution, movement, or time period is "" (i.e., unusual or extraordinary) in some way and thus does not need to conform to normal rules or general principles. Although the idea appears to developed with respect to an era, today the term is particularly applied to national or regional exceptionalism. Other uses are rarer in the present day.

Exceptionalism is the perception that a country, society, institution, movement, or time period is "" (i.e., unusual or extraordinary) in some way and thus does not need to conform to normal rules or general principles. Although the idea appears to developed with respect to an era, today the term is particularly applied to national or regional exceptionalism. Other uses are rarer in the present day.