ex·empt
ig-ˈzem(p)t 
1
: free or released from some liability or requirement to which others are subject
was exempt from jury duty
the estate was exempt from taxes
2
obsolete
: set apart
exempted; exempting; exempts
: to release or deliver from some liability or requirement to which others are subject
exempted from military service
: one exempted or freed from duty
Examples of exempt in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The outlet reported that the deputy’s son is exempt from a mugshot because his mother is a law enforcement officer.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Restaurants operating inside a grocery establishment are exempt, as are restaurants producing and selling bread as a stand-alone menu item.
—Terry Chea, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2024
The young men of the Haredim, as they are known in Hebrew, are in all practical terms exempt from mandatory military services – an issue that has bedeviled Israeli society since the country’s founding.
—Mick Krever, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
The Defense Department and intelligence agencies are exempt from sharing their use of AI, though.
—Deepa Shivaram, NPR, 29 Mar. 2024
Those who decide to kickstart a commercial activity like an B&B or artisan boutique in the ancient district are exempt from paying taxes on waste disposal, advertisement and public space use for 10 years and granted tax credits for restructuring costs.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024
Netanyahu's War Cabinet, meanwhile, features centrist former military generals who have given voice to mounting frustrations among the Jewish Israeli public over the fact that the ultra-Orthodox have been exempt from service even in the midst of the Israel-Hamas war.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 29 Mar. 2024
Fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars are also exempt, as are bus lines like Greyhound, Megabus, and the Hampton Jitney.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 4 Apr. 2024
The governor has denied that any special deal was cut to exempt Panera Bread.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
Fort Worth on March 19 forbade voucher discrimination for one demographic exempted from the state ban — veterans.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024
The ultra-Orthodox parties were anxious to pass a law exempting religious seminary students from military service.
—Anshel Pfeffer, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024
Generally, money received from the settlement of lawsuits and other legal remedies is taxable income unless exempted, according to the IRS.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Besides residences, the law exempts parks, sports fields and playgrounds from the ban, as that grass serves a recreational purpose.
—Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2024
In Israel’s nascent days, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion agreed with Haredi rabbis to exempt from military service 400 men studying in religious schools, or yeshivas.
—Mick Krever, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
And some groups were exempted from the new rules altogether — notably, 21st Century Parks, the organization behind the Parklands of Floyds Fork.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2024
Adam Baum, The Enquirer, 20 July 2022
The electric-car maker clashed with Fremont officials last month over whether its factory was an essential business exempt from shutdown orders.
—BostonGlobe.com, 26 Apr. 2020
Donations made directly to the NRA would not qualify as tax exempt.
—Stephen Gandel, CBS News, 27 Nov. 2019
The rustic retreat boasts 28 acres, 27 of which are classified as agricultural exempt improved pasture land, according to Milliorn.
—Rebecca Hennes, Houston Chronicle, 3 Sep. 2019
The Senate plan also places sales taxes on upgrades to homes and buildings -- such as installing new window treatments and new roofs -- that are currently tax exempt.
—Julia O'Donoghue, NOLA.com, 3 June 2018
Harrisburg is burdened by the fact that a majority of its real estate is owned by the state or is tax exempt.
—Michaelle Bond, Philly.com, 16 Mar. 2018
By the end of the current abatement, the building will have been tax exempt for 15 years.
—Sharon Coolidge, Cincinnati.com, 13 Dec. 2017
The department is taking more steps to detect fraud, including checking the IRS website to see if an organization really is tax exempt, said Jeff Fleming, spokesman for the department.
—Mary Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2017
Adjective
Anyone born in the city is also exempt, as are minors under 14.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The outlet reported that the deputy’s son is exempt from a mugshot because his mother is a law enforcement officer.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Restaurants operating inside a grocery establishment are exempt, as are restaurants producing and selling bread as a stand-alone menu item.
—Terry Chea, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2024
The young men of the Haredim, as they are known in Hebrew, are in all practical terms exempt from mandatory military services – an issue that has bedeviled Israeli society since the country’s founding.
—Mick Krever, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
The Defense Department and intelligence agencies are exempt from sharing their use of AI, though.
—Deepa Shivaram, NPR, 29 Mar. 2024
Those who decide to kickstart a commercial activity like an B&B or artisan boutique in the ancient district are exempt from paying taxes on waste disposal, advertisement and public space use for 10 years and granted tax credits for restructuring costs.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024
Netanyahu's War Cabinet, meanwhile, features centrist former military generals who have given voice to mounting frustrations among the Jewish Israeli public over the fact that the ultra-Orthodox have been exempt from service even in the midst of the Israel-Hamas war.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 29 Mar. 2024
Fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars are also exempt, as are bus lines like Greyhound, Megabus, and the Hampton Jitney.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
But many are already serving in the military, living in occupied areas or outside Ukraine, or have jobs or disabilities that exempt them from conscription.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 4 Apr. 2024
The governor has denied that any special deal was cut to exempt Panera Bread.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
Fort Worth on March 19 forbade voucher discrimination for one demographic exempted from the state ban — veterans.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024
The ultra-Orthodox parties were anxious to pass a law exempting religious seminary students from military service.
—Anshel Pfeffer, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024
Generally, money received from the settlement of lawsuits and other legal remedies is taxable income unless exempted, according to the IRS.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Besides residences, the law exempts parks, sports fields and playgrounds from the ban, as that grass serves a recreational purpose.
—Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2024
In Israel’s nascent days, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion agreed with Haredi rabbis to exempt from military service 400 men studying in religious schools, or yeshivas.
—Mick Krever, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
And some groups were exempted from the new rules altogether — notably, 21st Century Parks, the organization behind the Parklands of Floyds Fork.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
One additional player may be added to each draw as a special exempt.
—Adam Baum, The Enquirer, 20 July 2022
The electric-car maker clashed with Fremont officials last month over whether its factory was an essential business exempt from shutdown orders.
—BostonGlobe.com, 26 Apr. 2020
Donations made directly to the NRA would not qualify as tax exempt.
—Stephen Gandel, CBS News, 27 Nov. 2019
The rustic retreat boasts 28 acres, 27 of which are classified as agricultural exempt improved pasture land, according to Milliorn.
—Rebecca Hennes, Houston Chronicle, 3 Sep. 2019
The Senate plan also places sales taxes on upgrades to homes and buildings -- such as installing new window treatments and new roofs -- that are currently tax exempt.
—Julia O'Donoghue, NOLA.com, 3 June 2018
Harrisburg is burdened by the fact that a majority of its real estate is owned by the state or is tax exempt.
—Michaelle Bond, Philly.com, 16 Mar. 2018
By the end of the current abatement, the building will have been tax exempt for 15 years.
—Sharon Coolidge, Cincinnati.com, 13 Dec. 2017
The department is taking more steps to detect fraud, including checking the IRS website to see if an organization really is tax exempt, said Jeff Fleming, spokesman for the department.
—Mary Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exempt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin exemptus, past participle of eximere to take out — more at example
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1532, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of exempt was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing exempt
Articles Related to exempt
Dictionary Entries Near exempt
Cite this Entry
“Exempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exempt. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
exempt
1 of 2 adjective
ex·empt
ig-ˈzem(p)t
: free or released from some requirement that others must meet or deal with
exempt
2 of 2 verb
: to make exempt
Legal Definition
exempt
1 of 2 adjective
ex·empt
ig-ˈzempt
: free or released from some obligation or duty to which others are subject : not subject or liable
certain properties are declared to be exempt and cannot be taken by a person's creditors—J. H. Williamson
J. H. Williamsonexempt
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to release or exclude from some liability (as in taxation), obligation, or duty to which others are subject
exempts the income of a spendthrift trust—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
More from Merriam-Webster on exempt
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for exempt
Nglish: Translation of exempt for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of exempt for Arabic Speakers
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