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; 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 there are winners and losers and winners who feel like losers and schemers who get away with their misdeeds scot-free.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2025

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

From Slate • Sep. 7, 2024

And there must be others who are guilty of traffic infractions in Greenwich who have got off scot-free.

From BBC • Oct. 21, 2023

But looking at Dr. Begbie now, seeing the deep lines carved in her face that no one in their twenties should have had, I wasn’t so sure they had gotten off scot-free.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

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