exception vs instance

exception and instance both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
exception	Yes	No	No	No
instance	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, instance is a hypernym of exception; that is, instance is a word with a broader meaning than exception:

Other hypernyms of exception include example, illustration, representative.

exception (noun)	instance (noun)
a deliberate act of omission	an item of information that is typical of a class or group
an instance that does not conform to a rule or generalization	an occurrence of something
grounds for adverse criticism

exception (verb)	instance (verb)
	clarify by giving an example of