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

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

Other Word Forms

• exceptionless adjective
• preexception 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

With a few notable exceptions, today’s campuses are woefully lacking in viewpoint diversity, among faculty and students alike.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This recent experience is the rule rather than the exception.

Read more on MarketWatch

In quitting without help, I’m something of an exception.

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Only five narrow exceptions qualify: those protecting life and property, those necessary to the president’s constitutional duties, those performing legally mandated activities, those with funding outside the annual budget, and those authorized by other laws.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

One exception was a direct feed to the South Gaza desalination plant, which supplies clean drinking water.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• anomaly 
• exemption 
• oddity 
• privilege