EXCEPTION

[noun]Mary always leaves home at eight o'clock but today is an exception, she's going later. [C]You must report here every Tuesday without exception. [U]We don't usually accept late applications but in this case we can make an exception (= accept it) because of the circumstances.With the exception of the weather it was a perfect holiday. [C]If someone takes exception to something or someone they are offended or made angry by it.Why did you take exception to what he said? He was only joking.An exception that proves the rule is something that emphasizes the general truth of a statement by disagreeing with it.Most company directors are middle-aged men, but this 28-year-old woman is an exception that proves the rule.