Exempt: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone is freed from an obligation or duty, particularly because they meet certain criteria or standards. Often used in legal, financial, and educational contexts.

• Students with high grades are exempt from taking the final exam.
• Certain low-income families are exempt from paying this tax.

Used to grant permission to someone to be absent from something, often for a specific reason. It can also mean providing a reason or explanation to justify why something was not done.

• The teacher excused John from class because he was feeling ill.
• Please excuse my lateness; there was heavy traffic.

Generally used in more casual settings to mean relieving someone from a task, obligation, or experience, often to prevent discomfort or inconvenience.

• I will spare you the details of the boring meeting.
• Could you spare me from doing the dishes just this once?

Commonly used in legal situations to declare someone not guilty of a crime or wrongdoing that they were accused of. This term has a strong formal and legal connotation.

• The jury exonerated the defendant after a lengthy trial.
• New evidence exonerated her from any involvement in the scandal.

Used when someone is not required to do something, typically a legal or formal requirement.

• Students are exempt from paying taxes.
• He was exempt from military service due to his health condition.

Applicable when someone is protected from something, especially diseases or particular influences.

• She is immune to the common cold.
• They were immune to criticism because of their strong self-confidence.

Used when someone or something is not influenced or changed by a particular situation.

• She remained unaffected by the negative comments.
• The forest remained largely unaffected by the storm.

Relevant when discussing items or income that are not subjected to tax.

• Gifts under a certain amount are untaxed.
• His inheritance was untaxed due to specific legal exemptions.