exception

1 a person or a thing that is not included in a general statement: Most of the buildings in the town are modern, but the church is an exception. * With very few exceptions, private schools get the best exam results. * Nobody had much money at the time and I was no exception. 2 a thing that does not follow a rule: Good writing is unfortunately the exception rather than the rule (= it is unusual). * There are always a lot of exceptions to grammar rules. IDIOMS the exception that proves the rule people say that sth is the exception that proves the rule when they are stating sth that seems to be different from the normal situation, but they mean that the normal situation remains true in general: Most electronics companies have not done well this year, but ours is the exception that proves the rule. make an exception to allow sb not to follow the usual rule on one occasion: Children are not usually allowed in, but I'm prepared to make an exception in this case. take exception to sth to object strongly to sth; to be angry about sth: I take great exception to the fact that you told my wife before you told me. * No one could possibly take exception to his comments. with the exception of except; not including: All his novels are set in Italy with the exception of his last. without exception used to emphasize that the statement you are making is always true and everyone or everything is included: All students without exception must take the English examination.