exception

American  

[ik-sep-shuhn] / ɪkˈsɛp ʃən /

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.

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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.

exception British  

/ 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. 1. (usually foll by to) to make objections (to); demur (at)

   2. (often foll by at) to be offended (by); be resentful (at)

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exception More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing exception

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

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Other Word Forms

• exceptionless adjective
• preexception noun

Etymology

Origin of exception

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

Example Sentences

Shakespeare’s bad guys, with a few notable exceptions, are quite like you and me, which is to say they are human.

From Los Angeles Times

The major indexes slipped Friday, finishing the week in negative territory—with one exception.

From Barron's

Currently, you can only make use of that exception for early withdrawals from traditional IRA accounts, or you can take Roth IRA contributions out at any time without taxes or penalties.

From MarketWatch

It is an exception to the Posse Comitatus Act that typically places strict limits on how federal forces can be used on U.S. soil.

From The Wall Street Journal

The exception to this dreary trend—the really wonderful bright spot that cheers both the reader’s and the author’s heart—are classical schools, where academic study is based on what Mr. Traub calls “beautiful content.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• anomaly
• exemption
• oddity
• privilege