amnesty

[ am-nuh-stee ]

noun

, plural am·nes·ties.

1. a general pardon for offenses, especially political offenses, against a government, often granted before any trial or conviction.
2. Law. an act of forgiveness for past offenses, especially to a class of persons as a whole.
3. a forgetting or overlooking of any past offense.

verb (used with object)

, am·nes·tied, am·nes·ty·ing.

1. to grant amnesty to; pardon.

amnesty

/ ˈæmnɪstɪ /

noun

1. a general pardon, esp for offences against a government
2. a period during which a law is suspended to allow offenders to admit their crime without fear of prosecution
3. law a pardon granted by the Crown or Executive and effected by statute

verb

1. tr to overlook or forget (an offence)

Word History and Origins

Origin of amnesty¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Middle French amnestie, or directly from Latin amnēstia, from Greek amnēstía “oblivion,” equivalent to ámnēst(os) “forgetting” (from a- negative prefix + mnēs- “remember” + -tos verbal adjective suffix) + -ia noun suffix; a- ⁶, -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of amnesty¹

C16: from Latin amnēstia, from Greek: oblivion, from amnēstos forgetting, from a- ¹+ -mnēstos, from mnasthai to remember

Synonym Study

See pardon.

Example Sentences

While immigration agents staged highly publicized raids during the 1980s, Democrats and Republicans worked on an amnesty that President Reagan signed into law in 1986.

From Los Angeles Times

In several posts, Mr Musk mentions a 1986 bill which granted amnesty to approximately three million undocumented immigrants in the US.

From BBC

Friedman said she supports a path to citizenship for some immigrants living and working in the U.S. without documentation, akin to the amnesty that President Reagan signed into law in 1986.

From Los Angeles Times

“It was not a border bill. It was an amnesty bill ... ,” he said at a news conference in Manhattan.

From Los Angeles Times

Even with the ban coming into force and the recent amnesty, he says it is often too hard for some people “to do the right thing”.

From BBC

Related Words

• forgiveness
• immunity
• reprieve

More About Amnesty

What does amnesty mean?

Amnesty is a pardon for offenses against a government, especially before a trial or conviction for those offenses.

Amnesty also means an overlooking of past offenses.

In law, amnesty refers to an act of forgiveness for past offenses, often issued to a class of people.

An amnesty is a pardon for criminal offenses. However, a pardon can only be given after someone is judged guilty. Amnesty can be given before a judgment is made.

Amnesty often also refers to the process of allowing undocumented immigrants stay in the country rather than be deported.

Sometimes, an amnesty is named after the thing being forgiven. For example, an amnesty that says as long as you give in your illegal guns to the government you won’t be prosecuted for illegal ownership would be called a gun amnesty or firearm amnesty.

Example: The government offered an amnesty for anyone owning an illegal weapon if they handed the weapon in before the deadline.

Where does amnesty come from?

The first records of the term amnesty come from around the 1570s. It ultimately comes from the Greek word amnēstía, meaning “oblivion.”

Did you know … ?

What are some synonyms for amnesty?

• forgiveness
• immunity
• reprieve
• pardon

What are some words that share a root or word element with amnesty? 

• mneme
• amnesia

What are some words that often get used in discussing amnesty?

• program
• immigration
• bill
• grant
• offer

How is amnesty used in real life?

Amnesty is generally used to describe pardons for criminal offenses, but you’ll see it in the name of the charitable organization Amnesty International.

Nigerian bandits have started selling their kidnapped victims in the international slave market

Katsina state, Buhari's home state, is leading in the supply of the slaves

But activists are being charged for treason while the same bandits are being given amnesty and state pardon

— nafeeu 🇺🇦 (@nafeezi) September 30, 2019

UPDATE: The Spanish government will challenge motions passed by the Catalan parliament on Thursday seeking self-determination, amnesty and the removal of Spain’s Guardia Civil police from #Catalonia.

— Josep Goded (@josepgoded) September 27, 2019

Amnesty International urges Pakistan to release 'Prisoner Of Conscience' Junaid Hafeez charged with Blasphemy for his Facebook posts.

He is in solitary confinement since 2014 on death row.

— Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) September 26, 2019

 

 

Try using amnesty!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of amnesty?

A. pardon
B. immunity
C. reprieve
D. blame