amnesty

[ am-nuh-stee ]

/ ˈæm nə sti /

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See synonyms for: amnesty / amnestied / amnestying on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural am·nes·ties.

a general pardon for offenses, especially political offenses, against a government, often granted before any trial or conviction.

Law. an act of forgiveness for past offenses, especially to a class of persons as a whole.

a forgetting or overlooking of any past offense.

verb (used with object), am·nes·tied, am·nes·ty·ing.

to grant amnesty to; pardon.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of amnesty

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; see a-⁶, -y³

synonym study for amnesty

1. See pardon.

Words nearby amnesty

ammophilous, ammunition, Amne Machin Shan, amnesia, amnesiac, amnesty, Amnesty International, amnio, amniocentesis, amniography, amnion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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?

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

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

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

How to use amnesty in a sentence

In the group’s first press conference, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid promised amnesty for Afghans, that women would have rights “within Islamic law,” and that the group’s days of harboring terrorists are over.
The 3 things experts are watching to evaluate the Taliban|Gabby Birenbaum|August 25, 2021|Vox
If the amnesty given in the coup d’état is eliminated, it would be a great LGTBI contribution to this country where the human rights of journalists, lawyers, defenders of indigenous territories, Garifunas and villagers are violated.
Inter-American court rules Honduras responsible for transgender woman’s murder|Reportar sin miedo|June 28, 2021|Washington Blade
He offered blanket amnesty for regular soldiers and low-level Confederate officials.
The future in Afghanistan may be key to the well-being of America’s soldiers|Dillon Carroll|May 6, 2021|Washington Post
Cruz, the son of a Cuban immigrant, won applause for emphasizing his opposition to amnesty for children brought illegally to the United States by their parents.
Ted Cruz maintains ties to right-wing group despite its extremist messaging|Beth Reinhard, Neena Satija|April 23, 2021|Washington Post

As for the millions of undocumented men and women currently living in the United States, a grant of amnesty would be fundamentally unfair to those who came legally or are still waiting their turn to become citizens.
George W. Bush: Immigration is a defining asset of the United States. Here’s how to restore confidence in our system.|George W. Bush|April 16, 2021|Washington Post
Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders cannot be accessed without a virtual private network.
China’s Internet Is Freer Than You Think|Brendon Hong|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He made clear that he was happy with “90 percent of it” but that he could never support “amnesty.”
Quirky Reindeer Farmer Keeps Government Open for Christmas|Ben Jacobs|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He also elected not to take advantage of a recent tax amnesty whereby he could have paid back just 10 percent of what he owed.
Is Soccer Great Lionel Messi Corrupt?|Jack Holmes|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Along with amnesty, our borders were to be secured once and for all.
The Liberal Case Against Illegal Immigration|Doug McIntyre|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But that was so yesterday, much like his contention that he lacked the power to unilaterally confer amnesty.
With Immigration Move, Obama and the Welfare Party Strike Again|Lloyd Green|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead of the expected general amnesty, only a few special pardons were granted.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Later on he voluntarily presented himself to the military authorities, and obtained pardon under the amnesty proclamation.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
This was nothing less than the Turkish Revolution of 1908, with its consequent amnesty for all political offences.
The Cradle of Mankind|W.A. Wigram
Prince Eugne offered amnesty to the insurgents, and the Austrian ministry advised them to cease resistance.
The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte|William Milligan Sloane
They have issued an amnesty, pardoning even those who have committed the most frightful atrocities upon us.
A Roving Commission|G. A. Henty

British Dictionary definitions for amnesty

amnesty

/ (ˈæmnɪstɪ) /

noun plural -ties

a general pardon, esp for offences against a government

a period during which a law is suspended to allow offenders to admit their crime without fear of prosecution

law a pardon granted by the Crown or Executive and effected by statute

verb -ties, -tying or -tied

(tr) to overlook or forget (an offence)

Word Origin for amnesty

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

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

amnesty

Origin of amnesty

synonym study for amnesty

Words nearby amnesty

MORE ABOUT AMNESTY

What does amnesty mean?

Where does amnesty come from?

Did you know … ?

How is amnesty used in real life?

Try using amnesty!

Words related to amnesty

How to use amnesty in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for amnesty

Word Origin for amnesty