What does "exception" mean?

1. (someone or something that is different) someone or something that does not follow a rule or fit into a general group. 2. (the act of leaving something out) the act of not including someone or something in a group or rule. 3. (to be offended) to feel annoyed or offended by something someone said or did. 4. (a software error) a problem or error that happens while a computer program is running.

How do you use "exception"?

Commonly used in the phrase 'with the exception of'. Often used with the verb 'make'. Used in the fixed phrase 'take exception to something'. Commonly used with verbs like 'throw', 'catch', or 'handle'.

exception

US //ɪkˈsɛpʃən// UK //ɛksˈɛpʃən// ex·cep·tion

1 someone or something that is different (n.)
B1 Intermediate

someone or something that does not follow a rule or fit into a general group.

an instance or case that does not conform to a general rule or category.

Example

Most students passed the exam, but Mark was the only exception.

Example

While the company usually promotes from within, they made a rare exception for a candidate with such extensive international experience.

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'with the exception of'.
- anomaly
- deviation
- special case
- norm
- standard
2 the act of leaving something out (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the act of not including someone or something in a group or rule.

the act of excepting or excluding something from a general statement or requirement.

Example

The club has a strict dress code and they will not make an exception for anyone.

Example

The policy applies to all staff members without exception, regardless of their seniority or length of service.

Usage

Often used with the verb 'make'.
- exclusion
- omission
- inclusion
- incorporation

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3 to be offended (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to feel annoyed or offended by something someone said or did.

an objection or a feeling of being offended; used almost exclusively in the idiom 'take exception to'.

Example

I take exception to your comment about my work being lazy.

Example

The local council took exception to the developer's claims that the project would have no impact on the surrounding environment.

Usage

Used in the fixed phrase 'take exception to something'.
- agreement
- approval
4 a software error (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

a problem or error that happens while a computer program is running.

an interruption in normal processing caused by an error condition, which the software is designed to catch and handle.

Example

The program crashed because it didn't know how to handle the exception.

Example

The developer implemented a try-catch block to ensure that the application would not terminate when a null pointer exception occurred.

Usage

Commonly used with verbs like 'throw', 'catch', or 'handle'.

Origin

From Middle English exception, excepcioun, from Anglo-Norman excepcioun, from Old French excepcion, from Latin exceptiō. Equivalent to except + -ion.