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Exempt vs Excuse - What's the difference?

exempt | excuse |

Excuse is a synonym of exempt.



In transitive terms the difference between exempt and excuse

is that exempt is to grant (someone) freedom or immunity {{term|from}} while excuse is to provide an excuse for; to explain, with the aim of alleviating guilt or negative judgement.

As an adjective exempt

is free from a duty or obligation.

exempt

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Free from a duty or obligation.
    • In their country all women are exempt from military service.
    His income is so small that it is exempt from tax.
  • * Dryden
    • 'Tis laid on all, not any one exempt .
  • (of an employee or his position) Not entitled to overtime pay when working overtime.
  • (obsolete) Cut off; set apart.
  • * Shakespeare
    • corrupted, and exempt from ancient gentry
  • (obsolete) Extraordinary; exceptional.
    • (Chapman)

    Derived terms

    * tax-exempt

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who has been released from something.
  • (historical) A type of French police officer.
  • * 1840 , (William Makepeace Thackeray), ‘Cartouche’, The Paris Sketch Book :
    • with this he slipped through the exempts quite unsuspected, and bade adieu to the Lazarists and his honest father […].
  • (UK) One of four officers of the Yeomen of the Royal Guard, having the rank of corporal; an exon.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To grant (someone) freedom or immunity (from).

    • Related terms

    * exemption

    excuse

    English

    Verb

    (excus)
  • To forgive; to pardon.
    • I excused him his transgressions.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I must excuse what cannot be amended.
  • * Archbishop Sharp
    • A man's persuasion that a thing is duty, will not excuse him from guilt in practising it, if really and indeed it be against God's law.
  • To allow to leave.
    • May I be excused from the table?
    I excused myself from the proceedings to think over what I'd heard.
  • To provide an excuse for; to explain, with the aim of alleviating guilt or negative judgement.
    • You know he shouldn't have done it, so don't try to excuse his behavior!
  • To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.
  • * Bible, 2. Corinthians xii. 19
    • Think ye that we excuse ourselves to you?

    Synonyms

    * forgive, let off the hook, let pass, pardon, unguilt

    Derived terms

    * excuse me * excuse my French

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment.
    • Tell me why you were late – and I don't want to hear any excuses !
  • (legal) A defense to a criminal or civil charge wherein the accused party admits to doing acts for which legal consequences would normally be appropriate, but asserts that special circumstances relieve that party of culpability for having done those acts.
  • An example.(attention)
    • That thing is a poor excuse for a gingerbread man. Hasn't anyone taught you how to bake?
    He's a sorry excuse of a doctor.

    Usage notes

    * We often say to make an excuse.

    Synonyms

    * (explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment ): pretext

    External links

    * * English heteronyms ----