exempt
Americanverb (used with object)
adjective
-
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.
-
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
-
a person who is exempt from an obligation, duty, etc.
-
(in Britain) exon.
verb
adjective
-
freed from or not subject to an obligation, liability, tax, etc; excused
exempt gilts
tax-exempt bonus
-
obsolete set apart; remote
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
exemptionnoun
-
exemptibleadjective
-
nonexemptadjective
-
quasi-exemptadjective
-
unexemptadjective
-
unexemptedadjective
-
unexemptibleadjective
-
unexemptingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
exemptsimple
-
exemptssimple
-
have exemptedperfect
-
has exemptedperfect
-
am exemptingprogressive
-
are exemptingprogressive
-
is exemptingprogressive
-
have been exemptingperfect progressive
-
has been exemptingperfect progressive
Past
-
exemptedsimple
-
had exemptedperfect
-
was exemptingprogressive
-
were exemptingprogressive
-
had been exemptingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of exempt
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
Explanation
If your accountant tells you that you’re exempt from taxes this year, give him a big hug. He is saying that you don’t have to pay taxes. The adjective exempt traces back to the Latin word exemptus, meaning “to remove or take out” or “to free”. So if you are exempt, you are free of an obligation that others have to fulfill, such as paying taxes. But you can also be exempt from having to obey certain rules, like seniors being exempt from having to sell candy bars for a school fundraiser.
Vocabulary lists containing exempt
Power Prefix: ex-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Giver
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791)
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The committee noted that while the government's student loan policies were exempt from consumer protection laws, it expected the government "to comply with not only the law, but basic fairness and common decency".
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026
But banks would be exempt from that cap if they also own the network, the infrastructure that underpins the transaction.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026
The measure would also allow lawmakers to exempt money they put into the rainy day fund and the temporary holding account from state spending limits.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2026
Some states impose estate or inheritance taxes, which may further reduce the total, although for a $1.5 million estate, this is often limited or partially exempt depending on the state.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 24, 2026
The point is that no one is exempt from having his pronouns second-guessed.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
