impunity
Americannoun
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exemption from punishment.
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immunity from detrimental effects, as of an action.
noun
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exemption or immunity from punishment or recrimination
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exemption or immunity from unpleasant consequences
a successful career marked by impunity from early mistakes
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with no unpleasant consequences
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with no care or heed for such consequences
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Related Words
See exemption.
Etymology
Origin of impunity
First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French impunite or Latin impūnitāt-, stem of impūnitās, derivative of impūnis “without punishment, unpunished” (from the adverb impūne), equivalent to im- im- 2 + -pūne, combining form of poena “penalty, pain” + -itās -ity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The program, Davisson said, offers peace of mind in knowing that “thousands of brokers who previously could sell your information with impunity now no longer can do so.”
From Los Angeles Times
She said the Committee found the OSA to be "woefully inadequate" and called it "a shocking example of how UK citizens are left unprotected whilst social media companies act with impunity".
From BBC
Clare McGlynn, a law professor at Durham University, said X or Grok "could prevent these forms of abuse if they wanted to", adding they "appear to enjoy impunity".
From BBC
Bellanger condemned what he called "impunity" for those behind the attacks.
From Barron's
“It gives criminals impunity to do whatever they want to the immigrant community because they know immigrants may not go and file a complaint,” Zakaria said.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
