Amnesty — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈam-nə-stē/ am·nes·ty

Meaning & Definition of Amnesty

Amnesty (noun)

  1. the act of an authority (such as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals

Amnesty (verb)

  1. to grant amnesty to, to pardon (someone) officially often before a trial or conviction

Amnesty (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. release from the guilt or penalty of an offense

    "the president of France traditionally grants amnesty to specially selected prisoners on Bastille Day"

    similar: absolution, forgiveness, pardon, remission, remittal
    related: parole, acquittal, exculpation, exoneration, vindication, condonation, exemption, immunity, impunity, indemnity, commutation, commuting, reprieve, clemency, leniency, mercy
    opposite: penalty, punishment, retribution
    near: conviction, sentence, assessment, charge, fine, imposition, levying, castigation, chastening, chastisement, condemnation

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Amnesty

The most common words with a similar meaning to Amnesty:

absolution, forgiveness, pardon, remission, remittal

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Amnesty

Words with the opposite meaning of Amnesty:

penalty, punishment, retribution

Related Words for Amnesty

parole, acquittal, exculpation, exoneration, vindication, condonation, exemption, immunity, impunity, indemnity, commutation, commuting, reprieve, clemency, leniency, mercy

Near Antonyms of Amnesty

conviction, sentence, assessment, charge, fine, imposition, levying, castigation, chastening, chastisement, condemnation

Word Forms of Amnesty

Inflections: amnesties, amnestied, amnestying

Origin & Etymology of Amnesty

borrowed from Latin amnēstia, borrowed from Greek amnēstía "forgetfulness, oblivion, deliberate overlooking of past offenses," from amnēstós "forgotten, forgetful" (from a- a-:2 + mnēstós "memorable," verbal adjective of mnáomai, mnâsthai "to be mindful of" and mimnḗskomai, mimnḗskesthai "to call to mind, remember") + -ia -y:2 mind:1

First known use: 1580

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Amnesty

Frequently Asked Questions about Amnesty

What does "Amnesty" mean?

"Amnesty" means the act of an authority (such as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the act of an authority (such as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals.

What is another word for "Amnesty"?

Other words for "Amnesty" include absolution, forgiveness, pardon, remission and remittal. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Amnesty" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Amnesty"?

There are 21 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Amnesty". Common alternatives include absolution, forgiveness, pardon, remission and remittal.

What is the opposite of "Amnesty"?

Antonyms of "Amnesty" include penalty, punishment and retribution. Near antonyms include conviction, sentence, assessment and charge.

How do you use "Amnesty" in a sentence?

Examples of "Amnesty" in a sentence: "the president of France traditionally grants amnesty to specially selected prisoners on Bastille Day".

Is "Amnesty" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Amnesty" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Amnesty" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Amnesty" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Amnesty"?

"Amnesty" is pronounced /ˈam-nə-stē/ and divided into syllables as am·nes·ty.