exempt
gb/ɪɡzˈɛmpt/ us/ɪɡzˈɛmpt/
B2
English
~ 7400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
not required to do or pay
Not having to do something, or not having to pay something, that other people must do or pay.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is exempt from [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "exempt" with "except." "Exempt" means "not required to do/pay something," while "except" means "not including." Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition: it is almost always "exempt from," not "exempt of" or "exempt to."
Synonyms
not liable (Stresses that a person or thing is not legally responsible for a payment or duty.)
Antonyms
subject to (Emphasizes that the rule, duty, or payment does apply.)
Collocations
be exempt from
|exempt from tax
|tax-exempt status
|exempt employees
|exempt from duty
Themes
law
|business
|government
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Low-income families are exempt from paying this fee.
- Students with high grades may be exempt from the final exam.
- Religious organizations are often exempt from certain taxes.
- Children under five are exempt from wearing the device.
- Some imported goods are exempt from customs duties.
Learner examples
- He is exempt from military service.
- People over 65 are exempt from this tax.
- Full-time students are exempt from the bus charge.
- This product is exempt from import duty.
- Volunteers are exempt from the normal work rules.
Verb
formal
C1
action
2
to free from a requirement
To say by law or by rule that someone does not have to do something or pay something.
Usage pattern:
to exempt [someone/something] from [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use the verb without the preposition "from," e.g. *"The law exempts students the exam"* instead of "exempts students from the exam." Another error is using it where a simple verb like "excuse" or "free" is more natural in informal speech.
Synonyms
excuse (More general and less formal; can be social or personal, not only legal or official.)
Antonyms
obligate (Means to make someone legally or morally bound to do something.)
Collocations
exempt someone from tax
|exempt companies from regulations
|exempt students from the exam
|exempt employees from overtime
|exempt certain groups from fees
Themes
law
|government
|work
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new law exempts small businesses from this reporting requirement.
- Students with medical notes were exempted from the fitness test.
- The charity was exempted from paying local property taxes.
- The policy exempts part-time workers from the dress code rules.
- Officials agreed to exempt low-emission vehicles from the congestion charge.
Learner examples
- The school will exempt sick students from the test.
- The city wants to exempt poor families from the fee.
- The company exempted him from weekend work.
- The law exempts farmers from this rule.
- They asked the government to exempt small shops from the tax.
Grammar
Dictionary form
exempt
IPA
GB/ɪɡzˈɛmpt/
US/ɪɡzˈɛmpt/
Syllables & stress
ex - empt (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (empt)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: exempt
Verb
- Base: exempt
- 3rd Person Singular: exempts
- Present Participle: exempting
- Past: exempted
Word family
Forms
exempts
verb
exempting
verb
exempted
verb
Core family
exemption
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
nonexempt
adjective
Expressions
be exempt from
1/bˈi ɪɡzˈɛmpt fɹˈʌm/
fixed phrase
not have a rule apply to you
To not have to follow a rule, do a duty, or pay something because a special rule says you do not have to.
Examples
- Employees who work fewer than ten hours a week are be exempt from the policy.
- Some foods are be exempt from sales tax.
- Full-time students may be exempt from council tax in the UK.
tax-exempt
1/tˈæks ɪɡzˈɛmpt/
fixed phrase
formal
not required to pay tax
Not having to pay a tax because the law gives a special status.
Examples
- Donations to the organization are tax-exempt.
- The fund invests mainly in tax-exempt municipal bonds.
- They applied for tax-exempt status as a charity.