amnesty
5 synonyms for amnesty, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An official pardon granted by a government, especially to a group of people who committed a political offense.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use amnesty
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
grant amnesty
general amnesty
amnesty program
Etymology
From Greek amnestia, "forgetfulness" — the same root that gives us "amnesia"; an amnesty is a formal decision to officially forget an offense.
Full origin of amnesty →Frequently asked questions
What does “amnesty” mean?
The word “amnesty” means an official pardon granted by a government, especially to a group of people who committed a political offense. In plain terms, an official pardon, usually offered to a whole group at once rather than one person.
How do you pronounce “amnesty”?
“Amnesty” is pronounced AM-nih-stee (/ˈæm.nɪ.sti/ in IPA).
How do you use “amnesty” in a sentence?
Here is “amnesty” used in a sentence: “The government offered amnesty to rebels who surrendered their weapons.”
What part of speech is “amnesty”?
Depending on how it is used, “amnesty” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “amnesty” come from?
The word “amnesty” comes from Greek. From Greek amnestia, "forgetfulness" — the same root that gives us "amnesia"; an amnesty is a formal decision to officially forget an offense.
Is “amnesty” a common word?
“Amnesty” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “amnesty” have?
“Amnesty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an official pardon granted by a government, especially to a group of people who committed a political offense.
What is the difference between "amnesty" and "pardon"?
An amnesty is an official pardon granted by a government, typically to a whole group of people who committed a political offense, while a pardon more commonly refers to forgiveness granted to a single individual for a specific crime. Amnesty also often erases the legal record of the offense, whereas a pardon may simply excuse punishment without erasing the conviction.
How is "amnesty" used as a verb?
As a verb, "to amnesty" someone means to officially grant them a pardon, as in "the government voted to amnesty the prisoners." This verb use is less common than the noun form but follows the same sense of formal, government-granted forgiveness.
