exception

[ ik-sep-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of excepting or the fact of being excepted.
2. something excepted; an instance or case not conforming to the general rule.
3. an adverse criticism, especially on a particular point; opposition of opinion; objection; demurral:

   a statement liable to exception.

4. Law.
   1. an objection, as to a ruling of the court in the course of a trial.
   2. a notation that an objection is preserved for purposes of appeal:

      saving an exception.

exception

/ ɪkˈsɛpʃən /

noun

1. the act of excepting or fact of being excepted; omission
2. anything excluded from or not in conformance with a general rule, principle, class, etc
3. criticism, esp when it is adverse; objection
4. law (formerly) a formal objection in the course of legal proceedings
5. law a clause or term in a document that restricts the usual legal effect of the document
6. take exception
   take exception
   1. usually foll by to to make objections (to); demur (at)
   2. often foll by at to be offended (by); be resentful (at)

Other Words From

• ex·ception·less adjective
• preex·ception noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of exception¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English excepcioun, from Latin exceptiōn-, stem of exceptiō; equivalent to except ¹ + -ion

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take exception,
   1. to make an objection; demur:

      They took exception to several points in the contract.

   2. to take offense:

      She took exception to what I said about her brother.

More idioms and phrases containing exception

• except for (with the exception of)
• make an exception
• take exception to

Example Sentences

The pandemic has shaken up plans for everyone, and weddings are no exception.

From Fortune

There are exceptions, of course, and Wade cited the Minnesota Lynx as a team that “really gets up in your grill.”

From FiveThirtyEight

Disasters always tend to hit the most vulnerable among us hardest, and the pandemic is no exception.

From Voice of San Diego

A notable exception was Wisconsin, where 75 percent of votes were cast absentee despite nothing being mailed to them.

From FiveThirtyEight

Although the SARS-CoV-2 virus is most often fatal in patients who are elderly or have chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure, exceptions that bring down apparently healthy young people are commonplace.

From Quanta Magazine

The same Pediatrics journal notes that 17 states have some form of exception to the standard parental consent requirement.

From The Daily Beast

With the exception of New Hampshire, Paul has not demonstrated potential enthusiasm in the early primary states.

From The Daily Beast

None of her last five movies (with the exception of an Ice Age sequel she voiced) has grossed more than $50 million.

From The Daily Beast

No crimes were committed by Sony with the possible exception of all those Adam Sandler movies they insist on making.

From The Daily Beast

Mary Soames is an exception to the rule that gilded offspring endure life rather than enjoy it.

From The Daily Beast

Dean Swift was indeed a misanthrope by theory, however he may have made exception to private life.

From Project Gutenberg

The first steam rolling mill, with the exception of the one at Soho, was put up at Bradley ironworks.

From Project Gutenberg

All the banks in the city of New York without exception, and by common consent, stop specie payments.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, Monte Irvin had made a success of every affair in life with the lamentable exception of his marriage.

From Project Gutenberg

The cereals and grasses form an exception to this rule, for in them it is an abundant and important element.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anomaly
• exemption
• oddity
• privilege