Exception is a noun referring to a person or thing that is not included in a general rule or that is not typical. It also denotes a case or instance that differs from a general statement or standard. In logic or programming, an exception represents an error or special case that alters normal flow or handling.
"There was one exception to the rule, where the deadline could be extended."
"Her careful answer proved the rule, with that exception in mind."
"The software raised an exception when it encountered an unexpected input."
"In most sports, the star player is the exception rather than the rule."
The word exception comes from Middle English excepcioun, borrowed from Old French exception, from Latin exceptio, from excipere ‘to receive, take out, except’. The Latin root is ex- ‘out of’ + capere ‘to take’ leading to sense ‘a thing taken out, excluded from a general rule’. The term appeared in late Latin as exceptio to mean a taking out or excluding, then entered Old French as exception, carrying the sense of a thing that stands apart from a rule. In English, the form expanded in the 14th–15th centuries to mean something that does not conform to a rule or general statement. By the 16th–18th centuries, exception broadened to legal, philosophical, and logical uses, including “exceptio” in scholastic logic, and later in computing as a term for a special-case condition or error. The word’s core meaning—an instance that is not encompassed by a standard rule—has remained stable, but the contexts have diversified to include programming, statistics, law, and everyday speech. First known use in English appears in the 14th century, with evolving usage that culminated in modern English definitions of an exclusionary case or irregular instance.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Exception" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Exception"
-ion sounds
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Pronounce as /ɪkˈsep.ʃən/ in US/UK; the stress is on the second syllable: ex-CEP-tion. Start with an /ɪ/ vowel, then a hard /k/ and /s/ cluster, followed by /e/ (as in 'set') and an /ʃ/ sound before /ən/. Related tip: keep the /p/ light, and end with a soft /ən/.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, pronouncing ex-CEP-tion with stress on the first syllable; correct to ex-CEP-tion. 2) Slurring the /t/ into /ʃ/ or dropping /t/; produce /tʃ/ or clear /t/ before /ʃ/ to form /ˈsep.ʃən/. 3) Replacing /æ/ with /e/ or altering /ɪ/ to /iː/; aim for short /ɪ/ in first syllable and /ɛ/ in /ˈsep/. Use careful pause before /ʃ/.
In US: /ɪkˈsɛp.ʃən/ with a rhotic /r/ not present; in some US dialects the vowel in the second syllable may be slightly lowered to /ɛ/. In UK: /ɪkˈsep.ʃən/ with non-rhotic tendency; vowel qualities are similar but the vowel in the first syllable may be more lax. In AU: /ɪkˈsep.ʃən/; somewhat flatter intonation; /ə/ reductions less common; maintain the /tʃ/ blend clearly.
Difficult due to the /kˈs/ cluster followed by /eɪ/ vs /ʃən/ sequence; the /ks/ combo in the second syllable plus /p/ onset that blends with /ʃ/ can trip speakers; many learners mispronounce as /ɪkˈɪs-ɛp-ʃən/; focus on the -sep- + -t-; ensure the /t/ is audible before /ɪən/.
The syllable boundary between /sep/ and /ʃən/ is a key feature; many learners insert a break or misplace the /ʃ/; practice ensuring the /t/ is released before /ʃ/ to create /sep.ʃən/ rather than /sep.ʃən/.
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