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 officers’ gait was unmistakable: They moved with the assurance of impunity.
From Salon
Yet the institution he has helped consolidate may well remain: a durable culture of impunity in which violations no longer trigger correction, but, instead, set the new rules of the game.
From Salon
There's little doubt that old rules are being broken, with impunity.
From BBC
"It seems that Mr Sullivan travels around on planes with impunity without too much risk to himself, so I don't really understand," Judge Cooper said.
From BBC
"Sadly, Myanmar appears to be trapped in the cycle of atrocities and impunities," Jallow said, referring to the military's overthrow of the civilian government in 2021.
From BBC
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.
