noun

amnesty

/ˈæmnɪsti/ · say it: AM·nuh·stee

an official pardon for a group of offenders

In more detail

1. (noun) an official decision by a government to forgive people for crimes, usually political crimes, so that they are not punished

2. (noun) a period of time during which people can do something illegal without being punished, usually to encourage them to come forward

Examples

1. The government granted amnesty to all political prisoners after the war.
2. The city offered amnesty for people to turn in illegal weapons without facing criminal charges.

How to use amnesty

Amnesty refers to official governmental forgiveness of crimes, often used in transitional justice contexts or to resolve large-scale political conflicts. It differs from pardon in that amnesty typically applies to groups and may be conditional on coming forward, while pardon is individual. The word often appears in formal political and legal contexts.

Common phrases

grant amnesty
declare amnesty
amnesty for political prisoners
amnesty period
amnesty international
apply for amnesty

Synonyms

pardon · clemency · forgiveness · reprieve · immunity

Opposites

punishment · prosecution · conviction

Word family

amnesty (noun) · amnestic (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse amnesty with general mercy or kindness; amnesty specifically requires an official government action and usually a formal proclamation.

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