exception in WordNet English dictionary

1. a deliberate act of omission
   "with the exception of the children, everyone was told the news"
   exception  exclusion  elision 
   
2. 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"
   exception 
   
3. grounds for adverse criticism
   "his authority is beyond exception"
   exception