1. The act of excepting or the condition of being excepted; exclusion.

2. One that is excepted, especially a case that does not conform to a rule or generalization.

3. An objection or a criticism: opinions that are open to exception.

4. Law A formal protest against a ruling of the trial court on a question of law, such as the admissibility of a certain piece of evidence, to make clear for the record that the issue is being preserved for a potential appeal.