exempt

1 of 3

adjective

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

exempt

2 of 3

verb

exempted; exempting; exempts

transitive verb

: to release or deliver from some liability or requirement to which others are subject

exempted from military service

exempt

3 of 3

noun

: one exempted or freed from duty

Examples of exempt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Sixteen South Korea baseball players are also exempt after defeating Japan 3-1 in the Asian Games final earlier in the week. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

These small transgressions added up to a sense of ourselves as special, exempt from the rules—but also disliked, distrusted, untrustworthy, apart. — Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

Verb

The law also exempts California pro sports teams and venues that manage their own ticket inventory. — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

My amendment would reverse previous interference and prevent future interference by exempting collegiate sports from antitrust laws. — Sen. Rand Paul Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin exemptus, past participle of eximere "to take out, remove, set free, obtain immunity for," from ex- ex- entry 1 + emere "to take, buy" — more at redeem

Verb

Middle English, as past participle exemptid, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French exempter, borrowed from Latin exemptus, past participle of eximere "to take out, remove, set free, obtain immunity for" — more at exempt entry 1

Noun

derivative of exempt entry 1

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

Phrases Containing exempt

• tax-exempt

Rhymes for exempt

• attempt
• contempt
• preempt
• unkempt
• empt
• tempt
• nonexempt

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

exempt

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.