Exception

/ɪkˈsɛpʃən/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a person or thing that is excluded from a general statement or does not follow a rule.

Everyone is expected to work overtime, but she is an exception because of her family commitments.

a case to which a rule does not apply.

The teacher stated that all assignments are due on Friday, with the exception of the group project.

a formal objection to the ruling of a court.

The lawyer filed an exception against the judge's decision.

Late Middle English: from Latin exceptio(n-), from the verb excipere 'take out, take up'.

with the exception of:

excluding; not including.

make an exception:

to set aside a rule or guideline in a specific case.

take exception to:

to raise an objection against something.

the exception that proves the rule

His behavior is odd, but he’s the exception that proves the rule.