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

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.

Example Sentences

A primary residence is often treated as an exempt asset for Medicaid, subject to state-specific equity rules.

From MarketWatch • May 9, 2026

It added: "The Portuguese and Italian authorities confirmed that they do not intend to exempt any nationality."

From BBC • May 7, 2026

The new regulations also exempt certain products if they are already covered by federal law.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Directly owned real estate would be exempt because it is already subject to property taxes.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

And Ruth May was exempt from hope chest, but was allowed to lie in a hammock with us and make cat’s cradles out of yarn if she promised not to run off and break something.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• excuse
• exonerate
• free
• spare