exemption

noun

ex·​emp·​tion ig-ˈzem(p)-shən 

1

: the act of exempting or state of being exempt : immunity

2

: one that exempts or is exempted

especially : a source or amount of income exempted from taxation

Synonyms

• immunity
• impunity

Examples of exemption in a Sentence

They were granted exemptions from military service.

You can claim a tax exemption for each of your dependents.

Recent Examples on the Web

The bill raises the personal exemption allowance amount from $2,250 all taxpayers to $18,320 for married couples filing jointly and $9,160 for everyone else. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2024

Ott said there are no plans for aggressive enforcement despite the expiration of the exemptions. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024

The compromise law included a holdover provision from the original with an odd exemption for eateries that bake bread on site. —John Woolfolk, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has signed into law three measures aimed at replenishing the ranks of his country’s exhausted and battered army, including the politically poisonous step of lowering the age when men become eligible for mobilization, and eliminating some medical exemptions. —Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024

What happened with Panera and the bread-making exemption? —Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024

The office is looking to get those taxpayers onto payment plans and is checking to see if those homes were eligible for a poverty tax exemption. —Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024

In order to qualify for this specific exemption, the trust or estate will need to refile their W-9. —Matthew Erskine, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

The group of reservists has held regular protests calling for an end to the broad ultra-Orthodox exemption. —Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

exemption

noun

ex·​emp·​tion ig-ˈzem(p)-shən 

1

: the act of exempting : the state of being exempt

2

: something that is exempted

Legal Definition

exemption

noun

ex·​emp·​tion ig-ˈzemp-shən 

1

: the act of exempting or state of being exempt

2

: one that exempts or is exempted: as

a

: an amount of income exempted from taxation that may be deducted from adjusted gross income under the tax laws see also Internal Revenue Code compare deduction, exclusion, tax credit

— dependency exemption \ də-​ˈpen-​dən-​sē-​ \

: an exemption that is allowed for each dependent who qualifies under the tax laws (as sections 151 and 152 of the Internal Revenue Code)

Note: Under the federal income tax laws, the dependency exemption is allowed for each dependent whose gross income is less than the exemption or who is a child of the taxpayer and is under 19 or a student under 24.

— personal exemption

: an exemption that is allowed for the taxpayer or for the taxpayer and spouse if filing a joint return

b

: the right created by federal and state laws to exempt specified types of property from a bankruptcy estate

precludes the debtor from using the exemptions in the Bankruptcy Code

also : a type of property that may be claimed as exempt see also Bankruptcy Code

c

: homestead exemption