scot-free

American

[skot-free] / ˈskɒtˈfri /

adjective

completely free from harm, restraint, punishment, or obligation.

The driver of the car escaped from the accident scot-free. The judge let the defendant off scot-free.

scot-free British

adverb

(predicative) without harm, loss, or penalty

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of scot-free

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; see origin at scot, -free

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 second case for concern is the idea that the British are bringing the powerful to account while America is letting them off scot-free.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

But I also think about the alternative, which is for him to just walk away scot-free.

From Slate • Sep. 7, 2024

When Georgia re-entered the Union, the military court closed up shop and newly empowered state prosecutors abandoned the case, letting the murderers off scot-free.

From Salon • Sep. 4, 2023

Judge Thomas KC said this meant George's son "was not in any way sanctioned" and got away "scot-free".

From BBC • Jul. 25, 2023

Grandma may have escaped the horrors of the Holocaust, but she didn’t get off scot-free.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023