ausnahmsweise

Ausnahmsweise is a German adverb meaning "as an exception" or "unusually, for once." It signals that the action or situation differs from the ordinary rule, expectation, or practice. The word can appear at the start of a sentence or directly before the verb: "Ausnahmsweise darf er heute früher gehen." "Heute darf er ausnahmsweise früher gehen."

It is formed from Ausnahme (exception) and the suffix -weise (in the manner), functioning as an adverb meaning "in an exceptional manner." The term is standard in both spoken and written German and remains unchanged for person, number, or tense since it is an adverb.

Ausnahmsweise is commonly used to justify a departure from policy or routine, and it is often paired with verbs such as genehmigen, zulassen, or gestatten: "Wir können das ausnahmsweise genehmigen." It can soften a decision or create a concession, contrasting with normally or normalerweise. In everyday language it can denote a single, unusual exception rather than a general rule.

Related terms include Ausnahme (exception) and the phrase im Ausnahmefall (in the case of an exception). Antonyms include normally or gewöhnlich, which describe the standard or expected rule.