Exempt means excused from a requirement or rule that applies to others. When you're exempt from something, you don't have to do it, even though most people do.

In school, a student might be exempt from taking a final exam if they've maintained an A average all year. That student gets to skip the test while classmates still have to take it. Some students are exempt from certain homework assignments because they already demonstrated mastery of the material.

The word comes up often with rules and obligations. Religious organizations are exempt from paying certain taxes. A doctor might write a note saying a student is exempt from gym class due to an injury. During wartime, some people were exempt from military service because their jobs were considered essential on the home front.

An exemption is the special permission that makes someone exempt. Getting an exemption usually requires a valid reason: you may have already met the requirement, you may have a special circumstance, or the rule simply doesn't apply to your situation.