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.

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

Other Word Forms

• exemptible adjective
• nonexempt adjective
• preexempt verb (used with object)
• quasi-exempt adjective
• unexempt adjective
• unexempted adjective
• unexemptible adjective
• unexempting adjective
• exemption noun

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

That optimism was borne out: In mid-November, the White House exempted cocoa and dozens of other foods and ingredients from much of the administration’s tariff regime.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The United States said Thursday that it is exempting various Brazilian agricultural goods from sharp tariffs -- including beef, coffee and tomatoes -- widening a range of exclusions from recently imposed levies.

Read more on Barron's

Roblox is among several platforms, including Discord, WhatsApp and Lego Play, that have been deemed to be exempt from the Australian social media law.

Read more on Barron's

Now it is exempted, and cocoa prices have retreated from a December 2024 high.

Read more on Barron's

Other rule changes followed: In March, for example, the trade group introduced a new policy for the databases that gave agents the option to exempt listings from public marketing for a period of time.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• excuse 
• exonerate 
• free 
• spare