An exemption is an official permission to skip or be excused from something that normally applies to everyone else. When you get an exemption, you're freed from a rule, requirement, or obligation that others must follow.

Schools often grant exemptions from certain requirements. A student with a medical exemption might not have to run laps in gym class because of an injury. A gifted math student might receive an exemption from taking the regular math class and move ahead to a more challenging level. Some students get exemptions from final exams if they've maintained excellent grades all semester.

The word appears frequently in discussions about taxes and laws. A tax exemption means you don't have to pay certain taxes that others do. Religious organizations often have tax-exempt status, meaning they don't pay the taxes that regular businesses must pay.

Notice that exemptions aren't the same as breaking rules or sneaking around them. An exemption is an official exception, usually granted for a specific reason: medical needs, special circumstances, or meeting certain qualifications. You might ask for an exemption from a school uniform policy because of religious beliefs, or a restaurant might seek an exemption from certain regulations.

The related verb is exempt: “The teacher exempted her from the assignment because she was sick.”