amnesty

noun
UK: /ˈæmnəsti/
US: /ˈæmnəsti/

  1. A decision that a group of people will not be punished for a crime they have committed.

    1. The government granted amnesty to political prisoners. [ ] [ ]
    2. The new leader declared an amnesty for those who had participated in the rebellion, hoping to unite the country. [ ] [ ]

  2. A period during which people can admit to a crime without being punished.

    1. The city had an amnesty for overdue parking tickets. [ ] [ ]
    2. The police offered an amnesty for illegal weapons, encouraging people to turn them in without fear of prosecution. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

immunity reprieve forgiveness clemency pardon discharge absolution acquittal release grace mercy respite remission vindication impunity act of grace
amnesty transitive-verb

  1. To officially forgive a group of people who have committed crimes against the state.

    1. They amnestied the refugees. [ ] [ ]
    2. The president decided to amnesty all draft dodgers from the Vietnam War, hoping to heal the divisions in the country. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "amnesty" in English means: A decision that a group of people will not be punished for a crime they have committed., A period during which people can admit to a crime without being punished..

The phonetic transcription of "amnesty" is /ˈæmnəsti/ in British English and /ˈæmnəsti/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "amnesty": immunity, reprieve, forgiveness, clemency, pardon, discharge, absolution, acquittal, release, grace, mercy, respite, remission, vindication, impunity, act of grace.

Example usage of "amnesty": "The government granted amnesty to political prisoners.". More examples on the page.