impunity

[ im-pyoo-ni-tee ]

noun

1. exemption from punishment.
2. immunity from detrimental effects, as of an action.

impunity

/ ɪmˈpjuːnɪtɪ /

noun

1. exemption or immunity from punishment or recrimination
2. exemption or immunity from unpleasant consequences

   a successful career marked by impunity from early mistakes

3. with impunity
   1. with no unpleasant consequences
   2. with no care or heed for such consequences

Word History and Origins

Origin of impunity¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of impunity¹

C16: from Latin impūnitās freedom from punishment, from impūnis unpunished, from im- (not) + poena punishment

Synonym Study

See exemption.

Example Sentences

The Supreme Court gave Trump the right to take any “official” action with impunity.

From Salon

He might yank press passes with impunity.

From Salon

But Csathy contends that McMahon overlooked the possibility that her ruling might undermine the licensing market — if AI developers can remove CMI from training data with impunity, they might not feel any need to license copyrighted material in the future.

From Los Angeles Times

Lloyd’s “Sunset Blvd.,” by contrast, blasts away with impunity to create a vastly different experience — a kinetic multimedia concert, in which Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music and Don Black and Christopher Hampton’s lyrics are freed from the procedural nature of Black and Hampton’s book.

From Los Angeles Times

Today, much of Mexico is contested by warring criminal groups that operate with near impunity and are often aligned with political leaders.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• immunity