What does exempt mean?
Word: Exempt
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Exempt means free from a rule, duty or payment that others have to follow or make.
Word origin: From Latin exemptus.
How do you spell exempt?
Syllables: ex - empt
Tricky part: The p is the trap. It is barely heard before the t, so students leave it out.
Watch out for: exemt, exemped
Memory tip: An exempt student has an empty desk on test day: empty and exempt both keep the p.
Exempt in a sentence
Example 1: Students with a perfect attendance record are exempt from the extra class.
Example 2: Children under five are exempt from the entry fee at the zoo.
Example 3: Our team was exempt from the first round because we won last year.
Fun Fact
In professional golf, an exempt player has earned the right to enter a tournament without playing a qualifying round beforehand.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Which word takes the same letter in both blanks?
a) _x_mine
b) _x_mpt
c) _x_tic
d) _x_le
Show answer
b) _x_mpt. All four start with e; only this word takes e again in its second gap.
Sound Check
In which word is 'x' pronounced differently?
a) exempt
b) exist
c) exhaust
d) expert
Show answer
d) expert. Expert has a ks sound; in exempt, exist and exhaust the letter is said gz.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its meaning:
1. exempt 2. eligible 3. compulsory a. qualified to enter or apply b. required by a rule c. excused from a task
a) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
c) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
d) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
Show answer
d) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b. Eligible people may apply, compulsory things must be done, and exempt people need not do them.
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the given sentence?
Seniors who took part in the science exhibition were exempt from the weekly quiz, and they spent the afternoon rehearsing.
a) 2
b) 1
c) 0
d) 3
Show answer
c) 0. Exhibition and rehearsing look tricky, but every word in the sentence is right.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A notice says that members are exempt from the parking fee. What should a member pay?
a) the fee at the exit
b) nothing at all
c) double the usual fee
d) half the usual fee
Show answer
b) nothing at all
2. What could make a pupil exempt from the annual swimming test?
a) being the tallest in the class
b) holding a swimming certificate
c) forgetting a towel at home
d) reaching the pool rather late
Show answer
b) holding a swimming certificate
