be sb who, or sth which, appears contrary to what is normally accepted, believed
Hooliganism has been the exception to the rule that the media are only interested in victories, records, and the private life of the stars. BNCI
But, as things stand, cases of a person feeling cold when conditions are such as would ordinarily make him feel warm are the exception to the rule. BNCI
There is no reason why management should be an exception to the rule: bad frequently breeds worse. BNCI