1. (

• exception ,
• exclusion ,
• elision

) a deliberate act of omission; "with the exception of the children, everyone was told the news" ;

2. (

• exception ,

) an instance that does not conform to a rule or generalization; "all her children were brilliant; the only exception was her last child"; "an exception tests the rule" ;

3. (

• exception

) grounds for adverse criticism; "his authority is beyond exception" ;