exemption

noun

ex·​emp·​tion ig-ˈzem(p)-shən How to pronounce exemption (audio)
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

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 law contains an exemption for chains that bake bread and sell it as a stand-alone item. Fielding Buck, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2024 More than 3% of students claimed a religious exemption in the 2021-2022 school year, the highest ever, the report stated. Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024 The Florida outbreak comes at a time when the number of national vaccine exemptions has reached an all-time high. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024 Certain exemptions apply, but the overarching goal is to promote sustainable tourism and protect Venice's fragile infrastructure from the adverse effects of excessive tourism and environmental challenges. David Nikel, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 While the vaccine is mandatory to attend all public and private childcare and K-12 schools in Florida, some students have medical or religious exemptions. Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2024 In another suit from an actor challenging his termination after being refused a vaccine exemption, a federal judge dismissed some claims from Rockmond Dunbar. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024 The proposal, which Kelly vetoed last month, would have imposed the flat income tax alongside several policies Kelly included in her own tax package – the elimination of the food sales tax on April 1, the elimination of income tax on Social Security and a $100,000 exemption on state property taxes. Katie Bernard, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2024 Foreigners who knowingly funded UNRWA would normally be subject to sanctions, but the Biden administration provided exemptions for those activities. Kyle Morris, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exemption.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exemption was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near exemption

Cite this Entry

“Exemption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exemption. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exemption

noun
ex·​emp·​tion ig-ˈzem(p)-shən How to pronounce exemption (audio)
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 How to pronounce exemption (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on exemption

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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