WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ex•empt /ɪgˈzɛmpt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
adj. [be + ~ (+ from)]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to free from an obligation, rule, or duty.
adj. [be + ~ (+ from)]
- released from, or not subject to, an obligation, rule, or duty, etc.: Charitable organizations are usually exempt from taxes.
ex•emp•tion
(ig zemp′shən),USA pronunciation n.
ex•emp′tive, adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Businessthe circumstances of a taxpayer, as age or number of dependents, that allow him or her to make certain deductions from taxable income.
- the act of exempting.
- the state of being exempted;
immunity.
- Latin exemptiōn- (stem of exemptiō) removal. See exempt, -ion
- late Middle English 1400–50
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged exception. Exemption, immunity, impunity imply special privilege or freedom from imposed requirements. Exemption implies release or privileged freedom from some duty, tax, etc.:exemption from military service.Immunity implies freedom from a penalty or from some liability, esp. one that is disagreeable or threatening:immunity from disease.Impunity (limited mainly to the fixed expression with impunity) primarily suggests freedom from punishment:The police force was so inadequate that crimes could be committed with impunity.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged liability.
ex•empt
(ig zempt′),USA pronunciation v.t.
adj.
n.
ex•empt′i•ble, adj.
- to free from an obligation or liability to which others are subject;
release:to exempt a student from an examination.
adj.
- released from, or not subject to, an obligation, liability, etc.:organizations exempt from taxes.
n.
- a person who is exempt from an obligation, duty, etc.
- British Terms(in Britain) exon.
- Old French exempter, derivative of exempt
- 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, verbal) late Middle English exempten
- Old French
- (adjective, adjectival) Middle English 1325–75
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged except, excuse, relieve.