impunity

[ im-pyoo-ni-tee ]
/ ɪmˈpyu nɪ ti /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR impunity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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Origin of impunity

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

synonym study for impunity

See exemption.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH impunity

immunity, impunity .

Words nearby impunity

impulse turbine, impulsion, impulsive, impulsive obsession, impundulu, impunity, impure, impure flutter, impurity, imputable, imputation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to impunity

immunity, exception, exemption, license, permission, liberty, dispensation, privilege, security, nonliability

Example sentences from the Web for impunity

British Dictionary definitions for impunity

impunity
/ (ɪmˈpjuːnɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

exemption or immunity from punishment or recrimination
exemption or immunity from unpleasant consequencesa successful career marked by impunity from early mistakes
with impunity
  1. with no unpleasant consequences
  2. with no care or heed for such consequences

Word Origin for impunity

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