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 ¹.

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

   tax-exempt bonus

   exempt gilts

2. obsolete.
   set apart; remote

noun

1. a person who is exempt from an obligation, tax, etc

Derived Forms

• exˈemption, noun

Other Words From

• ex·empt·i·ble adjective
• non·ex·empt adjective noun
• pre·ex·empt verb (used with object)
• qua·si-ex·empt adjective
• un·ex·empt adjective
• un·ex·empt·ed adjective
• un·ex·empt·i·ble adjective
• un·ex·empt·ing adjective

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

Defra suggested softening the policy to exempt some older people, possibly those over the age of 80.

From BBC

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey asked the prime minister if he would exempt GPs and health care providers from the rise.

From BBC

Students could be exempt from the phone policy for a number of reasons, including needing their phones for health reasons, individualized education programs, accommodations due to a disability, and language translation.

From Los Angeles Times

Harris wasn't exempt from the centrist Democrat conversation either.

From Salon

More intriguing is the battle for the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer to those not already exempt for the US circuit.

From BBC

Related Words

• immune