exempt

American  

[ig-zempt] / ɪgˈzɛmpt /

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

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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 British  

/ ɪɡˈzɛmpt /

verb

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

   to exempt a soldier from drill

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

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

Example Sentences

Faster construction: Various infrastructure projects are now exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act’s lengthy review process.

From Los Angeles Times

Chinese people will pay a 13% sales tax on contraceptives from 1 January, while childcare services will be exempt, as the world's second-largest economy tries to boost birth rates.

From BBC

You’ll pay tax now on the funds you convert, but they will grow tax-free and be exempt from RMDs later on.

From MarketWatch

The most recent move came last week, when the Shanghai Stock Exchange said it would speed up the IPO process for Chinese companies developing reusable commercial rockets by exempting them from some financial requirements.

From MarketWatch

None of us is exempt from our demise.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• excuse
• exonerate
• free
• spare