<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001109357</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXELON CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EXC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230821</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BEMIS MICHAEL B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>37TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60603</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><otherText>Exec. Officer through 09/23/03</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6773</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Deferred Comp. Phantom Shares</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>129</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>129</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Filing is being made to show the reporting person's holdings as of 09/23/2003, the date he ceased to be a Section 16 reporting person.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Phantom shares held in a multi-fund deferred compensation account to be settled for cash on a 1:1 basis upon the reporting person's termination of employment for any reason.  Shares are acquired through regular periodic payroll contributions and the reinvestment of dividends.  Balance includes 2 shares acquired on 06/10/2003 and 09/10/2003 through the automatic dividend reinvestment feature of Exelon plans.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Scott N. Peters, Esq., Attorney in Fact for Michael B. Bemis</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

