am·nes·ty
noun \ˈam-nə-stē\
: a decision that a group of people will not be punished or that a group of prisoners will be allowed to go free
plural am·nes·ties
Full Definition of AMNESTY
: the act of an authority (as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals
— amnesty transitive verb
Examples of AMNESTY
- The government gave amnesty to all political prisoners.
- Illegal immigrants who came into the country before 1982 were granted amnesty.
Origin of AMNESTY
Greek amnēstia forgetfulness, from amnēstos forgotten, from a- + mnasthai to remember — more at mind
First Known Use: 1580
amnesty
noun (Concise Encyclopedia)
In criminal law, a sovereign act of oblivion or forgetfulness (from Greek amnestia, “forgetfulness”) granted by a government, especially to a group of persons who are guilty of (usually political) crimes in the past. It is often conditional upon the group’s return to obedience and duty within a prescribed period. See also pardon.
wendytheredhead 