amnesty

[am-nuh-stee]

noun

plural

amnesties 

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)

amnestied, amnestying 

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

Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty.

From BBC

Remaining Hamas members who "commit to peaceful co-existence" and to decommission their weapons would be given amnesty and others would be exiled.

From BBC

Key elements of the plan, which the leaders announced at the White House in Washington, include the release of hostages, a prisoner swap involving hundreds and amnesty for Hamas fighters.

From Los Angeles Times

Hamas members who commit to peace will be offered amnesty and safe passage out of Gaza - and the group will have no future role in the territory.

From BBC

Tens of thousands of Brazilians joined protests in cities across the country on Sunday to protest against a bill which could result in amnesty for the former president.

From BBC

Related Words

• forgiveness 
• immunity 
• reprieve 

When To Use

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.