Definition

1. Noun:

   • An official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses: "amnesty" refers to a formal act by a government or authority that forgives a group of people for crimes, especially political crimes, and often frees them from punishment.
   • A period during which offenders can admit to a crime without fear of prosecution: "amnesty" can also describe a fixed period when people are exempt from punishment for a particular offense, typically to encourage them to come forward, such as during a tax amnesty.
   • The act of liberating someone: In a formal sense, it is the act of setting someone free.

2. Verb:

   • To grant an official pardon to a group of people: To "amnesty" means for an authority to officially forgive and free a group of offenders from legal consequences.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The new government declared an amnesty for all political prisoners.
  • The state offered a tax amnesty to encourage people to pay their back taxes without penalty.
  • The king's amnesty was a formal act of liberating the rebels.

• Verb:

  • The president amnestied the soldiers who had deserted during the war.

Advanced Usage

• "To grant amnesty": This is the standard phrase for officially giving a pardon.

  • The council voted to grant amnesty to the protestors.

• "Amnesty period": Refers to the specific timeframe when the pardon or exemption is in effect.

  • During the amnesty period, you can return the borrowed equipment without a fine.

Variants and Related Words

• Amnestied (verb, past tense): The state of having been granted amnesty.
  • The dissidents were amnestied after years in prison.

Synonyms

• Pardon: An official forgiveness for a crime.
• Clemency: Mercy or leniency, especially in punishing.
• Immunity: Protection or exemption from something, especially legal prosecution.

Related Phrases

• General amnesty: A pardon affecting a large, often unspecified, group of people.
  • The treaty included a provision for a general amnesty.

Related Idioms

• "A blanket amnesty": An amnesty that covers everyone involved in a broad category of offenses without individual review.
  • The peace agreement called for a blanket amnesty for all combatants.

Noun

1. the formal act of liberating someone
2. a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense
3. a period during which offenders are exempt from punishment

Verb

1. grant a pardon to (a group of people)