免除 means 'to exempt' or 'to relieve (someone) from an obligation, duty, fee, or penalty.' It is a formal, written verb commonly used in official, legal, educational, or administrative contexts — for example, exempting students from exams, waiving fees, or releasing someone from responsibility. The character 免 means 'to avoid' or 'to escape,' while 除 means 'to remove' or 'to eliminate'; together, they convey the idea of removing or doing away with a requirement or burden.

This word is typically followed by a noun indicating what is being waived (e.g., 免除学费 'exempt from tuition,' 免除责任 'relieve from responsibility'). It is rarely used in casual speech and almost never as a standalone verb without an object. While it can appear in passive constructions, it is most often used actively with a clear agent (e.g., the government, school, or court granting the exemption). Its tone is neutral to formal — never colloquial or emotional.