exception

noun

ex·​cep·​tion ik-ˈsep-shən 

plural exceptions

1

: the act of excepting : exclusion

2

: one that is excepted

especially : a case to which a rule does not apply

3

: question, objection

witnesses whose authority is beyond exception

—T. B. Macaulay

see also take exception

4

: an oral or written legal objection

Synonyms

• challenge
• complaint
• demur
• demurral
• demurrer
• difficulty
• expostulation
• fuss
• kick
• objection
• protest
• question
• remonstrance
• stink

Example Sentences

There will be no exceptions to this rule.

I take strong exception to your assessment of his singing ability.

Recent Examples on the Web

But what Paulina didn’t know is that someone else was also granted this exception. —The Foretold Team, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2023

She’s become a go-to confidante for her friends who have questions about dating, and a sounding board for colleagues who notice new trends, or exceptions to them. —Emma Grillo, New York Times, 25 May 2023

The average robot mower (there are some exceptions) uses multiple small steel pieces, each about the size of a razor blade, to remove very small amounts of grass over many days and multiple passes. —Kate Morgan, Popular Mechanics, 25 May 2023

That exception didn't satisfy the lawsuit's plaintiffs, obviously. —Douglas Soule, USA TODAY, 24 May 2023

Chinese citizens are almost entirely banned, with few exceptions, while there are similar but slightly lighter restrictions on citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. —Tori Otten, The New Republic, 24 May 2023

In an email to The Verge, repair technician and right-to-repair activist Louis Rossmann expressed disappointment that game consoles weren’t covered and concern that the cybersecurity exceptions might be abused as a loophole. —Adi Robertson, The Verge, 24 May 2023

With few exceptions the tables were populated by older patrons for whom the name Barbara Lynch clearly held sway. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 15 May 2023

DeBiasis insists the symptoms people experience are real, even if PTLDS experiences are the exception. —Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 14 May 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing exception

• the exception rather than the rule
• make an exception
• with the exception of
• take exception
• no exception
• without exception

• the exception rather than the rule
• make an exception
• with the exception of
• take exception
• no exception
• without exception

Kids Definition

exception

noun

ex·​cep·​tion ik-ˈsep-shən 

1

: the act of excepting : exclusion

it's all here, with the exception of the sweater

2

: a case where a rule does not apply

we'll make an exception this time

3

: an objection or a ground for objection

took exception to the remark

Legal Definition

exception

noun

ex·​cep·​tion

1

: something that is excepted or excluded

especially : a situation to which a rule does not apply

the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make

—U.S. Constitution art. III

2

: an act of excepting

especially : exclusion of a section of real property from a conveyance compare reservation

3

: a usually written objection especially to a judge's ruling

filed an exception raising a question regarding jury instructions

—used especially in equity proceedings see also bill of exceptions at bill sense 3a