COBUILD frequency band
exception
1.countable noun [oft with the N of n] B2
An exception is a particular thing, person, or situation that is not included in a general statement, judgment, or rule.
Few guitarists can sing as well as they can play; Eddie, however, is an exception.
There were no floral offerings at the ceremony, with the exception of a single red rose. [+ of]
With few exceptions, guests are booked for week-long visits.
Synonyms: special case, departure, freak, anomaly More Synonyms of exception
2.
See no exception
3.
See the exception that proves the rule
4.
See take exception to something
5.
See with the exception of
6.
See without exception
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
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COBUILD frequency band
exception in British English
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. See take exception
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
COBUILD frequency band
exception in American English
noun
1.
an excepting or being excepted; omission; exclusion
2.
anything that is excepted
; specif.,
a.
a case to which a rule, general principle, etc. does not apply
b.
a person or thing different from or treated differently from others of the same class
3.
objection or opposition
4. Law
a formal objection or reservation to court action or opinion in the course of a trial
Idioms:
take exception
the exception proves the rule
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME excepcioun < OFr exception < L exceptio
COBUILD frequency band
exception in American English
(ɪkˈsepʃən)
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, esp. on a particular point; opposition of opinion; objection; demurral
a statement liable to exception
4.Law
a.
an objection, as to a ruling of the court in the course of a trial
b.
a notation that an objection is preserved for purposes of appeal
saving an exception
5. See take exception
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
exceptionless
adjective
Word origin
[1350–1400; ME excepcioun ‹ L exceptiōn (s. of exceptiō), equiv. to except(us) ( see except1) + -iōn- -ion]
Examples of 'exception' in a sentence
exception
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Why would the workplace be an exception? The Guardian (2015) The Guardian (2016) The Guardian (2022) The Guardian (2020) The Guardian (2019) Times, Sunday Times (2016) The Sun (2014) Sidney Sheldon The Other Side of Me Times, Sunday Times (2012) Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Quotations
The exception proves the ruleJohn WilsonThe Cheats
Word lists with
exception
Law terms
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
Which law term am I?
the tacit encouragement of or assent to another's wrongdoing, esp (formerly) of the petitioner in a divorce suit to the respondent's adultery
Which law term am I?
a prior right to payment, as of a dividend or share in the assets of a company in the event of liquidation
Which law term am I?
competent to judge and pass sentence
Which law term am I?
the extinguishment of an estate, interest, contract, right, offence, etc, by its absorption into a greater one
Which law term am I?
(formerly) the formal written statements presented alternately by the claimant and defendant in a lawsuit setting out the respective matters relied upon
Your score:
More idioms containing
exception
something is the exception that proves the rule
COBUILD Collocations
exception
few exceptions
glaring exception
grant an exception
handful of exceptions
honourable exception
limited exception
lone exception
minor exceptions
notable exception
obvious exception
occasional exception
odd exception
only exception
partial exception
possible exception of
rare exception
single exception
sole exception
