unexceptional
UK: ˌʌnɪkˈsepʃənl | US: ˌʌnɪkˈsepʃənl
adj. ordinary or average; not standing out in any way
adj. lacking special qualities; not remarkable
The word "unexceptional" combines the negative prefix "un-" (from Old English "un-," meaning "not") with "exceptional," which derives from Latin "exceptio" (exclusion) via Old French. The root "except" originally meant "to take out" or "exclude," later evolving to imply rarity ("standing out"). Adding "un-" reverses the meaning to "not standing out." The suffixes "-ion" (noun-forming) and "-al" (adjective-forming) solidify its grammatical role. The word's logic reflects a progression from literal exclusion to figurative mediocrity.
His performance was unexceptional, neither impressive nor disappointing.
The restaurant served unexceptional food, but the service was excellent.
Despite high expectations, the film's plot was utterly unexceptional.
She lived an unexceptional life in a quiet suburban neighborhood.
The report highlighted unexceptional growth in the company's quarterly earnings.