amnesty
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.
to grant amnesty to; pardon.
Origin of amnesty
1synonym study For amnesty
Words Nearby amnesty
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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.
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 BladeHe 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 PostCruz, 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 PostAs 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.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTHe also elected not to take advantage of a recent tax amnesty whereby he could have paid back just 10 percent of what he owed.
Along with amnesty, our borders were to be secured once and for all.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTInstead of the expected general amnesty, only a few special pardons were granted.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanLater on he voluntarily presented himself to the military authorities, and obtained pardon under the amnesty proclamation.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanThis was nothing less than the Turkish Revolution of 1908, with its consequent amnesty for all political offences.
The Cradle of Mankind | W.A. WigramPrince Eugne offered amnesty to the insurgents, and the Austrian ministry advised them to cease resistance.
The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | William Milligan SloaneThey 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
/ (ˈæmnɪstɪ) /
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
(tr) to overlook or forget (an offence)
Origin of amnesty
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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