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

The United States on Monday exempted British pharmaceuticals from import tariffs under a unique deal which sees the UK increase spending on American drugs by 25 percent.

From Barron's

YouTube was added, despite the government's suggestion that it would be exempt so that children could watch lessons online.

From Barron's

We treat no perspectives as out of bounds, nor do we exempt any idea from being challenged.

From The Wall Street Journal

Iran is among the countries affected by the ban, although the executive order is supposed to exempt athletes and coaching staff travelling for the World Cup and 2028 Olympics.

From BBC

From January through August, the U.S. collected about $2.6 billion in tariffs on imports of the newly exempted items, according to a study of census data by the analytics firm Trade Partnership Worldwide.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• excuse
• exonerate
• free
• spare