exempt

[ ig-zempt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to free from an obligation or liability to which others are subject; release:

   A grade above B+ is required in order to exempt a student from an examination.

   Synonyms: except, relieve, excuse

adjective

1. released from, or not subject to, a particular obligation or liability, such as income tax:

   Charities and other exempt organizations must still file an information return with the IRS.

2. U.S. Law. relating to or being an employee to whom certain obligations imposed on employers under the Fair Labor Standards Act do not apply, generally because skill level and remuneration are relatively high or work is of a kind that cannot be strictly scheduled:

   Executive employees and creative professionals are among those considered exempt under the FLSA.

noun

1. a person who is exempt from an obligation, duty, etc.
2. (in Britain) exon ¹.

exempt

/ ɪɡˈzɛmpt /

verb

1. tr to release from an obligation, liability, tax, etc; excuse

   to exempt a soldier from drill

adjective

1. freed from or not subject to an obligation, liability, tax, etc; excused

   exempt gilts

   tax-exempt bonus

2. obsolete.
   set apart; remote

noun

1. a person who is exempt from an obligation, tax, etc

Derived Forms

• exˈemption, noun

Other Words From

• ex·empt·i·ble adjective
• non·ex·empt adjective noun
• pre·ex·empt verb (used with object)
• qua·si-ex·empt adjective
• un·ex·empt adjective
• un·ex·empt·ed adjective
• un·ex·empt·i·ble adjective
• un·ex·empt·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exempt¹

First recorded in 1325–75; (adjective) Middle English, from Old French, from Latin exemptus, past participle of eximere “to take out, free, release,” equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + emptus (past participle of emere “to buy, obtain”); (verb) late Middle English exempten, from Old French exempter, derivative of adjective exempt

Word History and Origins

Origin of exempt¹

C14: from Latin exemptus removed, from eximere to take out, from emere to buy, obtain

Example Sentences

In his ruling, McKenna said the city needed to either license the units or formally exempt the housing authority from inspections through legislation.

From ProPublica

Travel to and from Maryland and Virginia is exempt from the mayor’s order.

From Washington Blade

Neighboring cities, like Carlsbad, Escondido and Oceanside, have long argued that emails should be exempt from the state’s two-year minimum, so they also destroy emails on an earlier time table.

From Voice of San Diego

There is evidence, for example, that many departments buy their technology using federal grants or nonprofit gifts, which are exempt from certain disclosure laws.

From MIT Technology Review

State law requires local agencies to hang onto public records for at least two years, but many have argued that emails should be exempt.

From Voice of San Diego

Surely, Hollywood should not be exempt from such a standard.

From The Daily Beast

Individuals and businesses could exempt themselves from anti-discrimination laws by proffering religious objections to them.

From The Daily Beast

State and federal laws generally exempt religious institutions from having to perform gay marriages.

From The Daily Beast

But having reached something of a compromise, the IRS approved the school as a tax-exempt nonprofit in March 2002.

From The Daily Beast

The groups, nonprofits exempt from paying taxes, are not required to disclose their donors in Kansas and most other states.

From The Daily Beast

He had discovered that the all-glorious boast of Spain was not exempt from the infirmities of common men.

From Project Gutenberg

The federal Bankruptcy Act prescribes what property passes to the trustee and also what is exempt.

From Project Gutenberg

Although exempt from concupiscence and "full of grace," she was so distrustful of herself as if she were in continual danger.

From Project Gutenberg

Is she more exempt from egotism, does she dislike others less, and has she fewer worldly affections?

From Project Gutenberg

The interests of the savings deposits are in like manner exempt from the Income Tax and from any future tax coming in its place.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• immune