What does "amnesty" mean?
Forgetfulness; cessation of remembrance of wrong; oblivion.
Amnesty
/ˈæm.nɪ.sti/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Forgetfulness; cessation of remembrance of wrong; oblivion.
- Grammar: amnesty is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: pardon, absolution, absolve, acquit.
- Useful contrasts: attainder, condemn, crucifying.
- Usage evidence: Amnesty International often organizes public protests in support of political prisoners.
How to use "amnesty"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "amnesty" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "amnesty" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "amnesty" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "amnesty" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "amnesty" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "pardon" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "amnesty", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Forgetfulness; cessation of remembrance of wrong; oblivion. countable, uncountable
- 2 the formal act of liberating someone wordnet
- 3 An act of the sovereign power granting oblivion, or a general pardon, for a past offense, as to subjects concerned in an insurrection. countable, uncountable
"Argentina has seen few legal issues as contentiously debated as these two laws of amnesty during the last two decades. […] Pursuant to the Convention on Forced Disappearance, amnesties may not contemplate a statutory limitation period less than that corresponding to the gravest crime punishable by domestic laws, provided there is a pre-existing domestic norm of “fundamental character” requiring that limitation."
- 4 a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense wordnet
- 5 a period during which offenders are exempt from punishment wordnet
Verb
- 1 To grant a pardon (to a group). transitive
"Shortly after the end of military rule in 1983, the Argentinean National Congress passed legislation that effectively amnestied many persons who allegedly committed human rights violations such as torture, extra-judicial killing, and forced disappearance. […] In other words, a government may be justified in amnestying military actions because the alternative would result in the destruction of the democratic state."
- 2 grant a pardon to (a group of people) wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 Amnesty International, a UK-based charity.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Amnesty International often organizes public protests in support of political prisoners."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "amnesty"?
Common synonyms include: pardon, absolution, absolve, acquit, amnesty statute, amnestying.
How do you use "amnesty" in a sentence?
Amnesty International often organizes public protests in support of political prisoners.
How do you pronounce "amnesty"?
Pronounced /ˈæm.nɪ.sti/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French amnestie (Modern French amnistie), a borrowing from Latin amnestia, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ἀμνηστία (amnēstía).